The Washington times., 1915-03-24
KITCHEN SANITATION
IS CAMPAIGNS AIM
international Conference to
Teach Housewife Value Of
+ Cleanliness.
An international conference

Ar international conference
Now. don't jump at conclusions This
Is not to be about world peace, or
arbitration, or worldwide disarmament.
or neutrality Far from 1t. THIS Is to
be an International conference. all right,
with South American nations ana
Switzerland participating, all to discuss
pure food!
And 1t is not even to discuss ship
ments of foods. or the latest methods
OF preserving foods, or anything else
half that advanced. 1t simply ls to
counsel such precautionary measures IN
the kitchen tpracticed by our grand
mothers) as these:'
When sneezing in the kitchen cover
the nose and mouth.
When re-entering the kitchen after
performing household duties wash the
hands.
In preparing salads always wash
thoroughly the green vegetables.
Be sure to sterilze plates, cooking
utensils and table silver.
But the aforesaid grandmothers mere
ly did this in the name of cleanliness:
the modern plea will be made on the
strictly scientific ground Of sanitation.
Task For Uncle Sam.
The United States Bureau of Chem
istry has been struggling with manu-
facturers to prevent adulteration Of
food The United States Bureau Of
Markets has been instructing riddle
men how to protect food from contami-
nation.
The third, and the most important
step, the scientists state. is to teach the
housewife that clean food may be de-
livered to her door, and still be danger
GUS to the ultimate consumers. mean
ing the hungry family at the table, un-
less she exercises proper precautions
In the kitchen.
The American Home Economics AS
sociation. of which DR. G. f. Lang
of the Department of Agriculture is
chairman. which has a branch In
Washington. headed by prominent home
economic workers like Miss Emma
Jacobs and Miss Ellen Marshall Rugg.
is Responsible for the international con-
Following the meeting of the national
association in Seattle. August 1920.
delegates are arranging to go in a body
to San Francisco, where the interna-
South American republics, Switzerland.
and other nations across the water
yet to be heard from, participating.
The Kitchen cleanliness movement Is
not new. 1t began with the Issuance OF
the Care of Food in the Home bull
letin by Mrs. Mary Hinman Abel. in the
preparation of which DR.. Langworthy
had part. Since then DR.. Langworthy
department, and through the Home
Economics Association. has been urS-
ing a wider attention to household
cleanliness.
Economics, published by the associa-
fion. DR.. Langworthy outlines the scope
OF the proposed educational campaign,
He states:
Food can be easily contaminated by
handling. Utensils washed with polluted
water may readily convey typhoid fever
Milk produced and handled under un-
sanitary conditions becomes unsafe. a
typhoid carrier who handles food may
convey the disease to many others
Typhoid Marys unfortunately. are not
at all rarity. A person who is suf-
fering from An infection of the nose or
throat may cough or sneeZc without
covering the face and spread the bac-
terla OF infection as well as dronlets Of
saliva over food and everything else
that is within 2 fairly wide radius.
Sewage flowing over oyster beds may
Contaninate oysters. Dirty clothing
ed hands, rats, mice, flies and other
insects, unclean air, and a lack of prop
cr sewage and drainage raclities-all
these may be dangerous causes of pol
luton of food. Perhaps the greatest
danger of all is the human hand, for
nothing comes so often in contact with
filthy things and food products alike
and only too often without proper wash
ing"
Some food manufacturers. Or. Lang
worthy said. display signs, When you
leave the room for any purpose whatso-
ever always wash your hands before
returning to work." Such a sign. he be-
lieves, would not be out of place in
every kitchen.
Nothing novel about all this, many
housewives will say. But. the associa-
tion members will tell you, many more
housewives. if they know these simple
rules. do not practice them. And much
food that comes to the homes uncon-
tsminated is made the carrier of dirt
and disease germs after it reaches fam
lily kitchens and refrigerators.