The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-02
HOUSEWIVES DERIDE'
PERKINS FOOD IDEA.
Think Mayors Committee
Wrong in Advising Buy
ing in Bulk.
PACKAGE GUARDS PURITY

At meeting yest erday OF the execu-
tive committee OF the National House,
wives League, OF which Mrs. Julian
Heath Is president. a resolution was
adopted protesting against the action
OF the Mayors food supply committee.
OF which George W. Perkins is chair
man, in issuing a pamphlet advising the
purchasing public ito buy In bulk and
not In package" The resolution was as
follows:
Whereas since the inception of the
Housewives League movement 1t has
been our aim to encourage and psbmote
the use OF such food products as are
produced, handled and marketed under
sanitary conditions. and
Whereas as this end can only be
achieved when the manufacturers name
is plainly placed upon the container or
! product so tina; the manufacturing plant
may be opened to inspection and the
manufacturer held responsible for the
quality OF his product. and
Whereas Une use OF bulk goods tends
| TO encourage adultcration and unsani-
tary handling ana nullies the work ac-
co.hplishe by the Federal and state su-
thoritics in requiring the proper label
ling OF food products. therefore,
BE II resolved, That the National
Housewives League protest vigorously
against the action OF the Mayors food
supply committee in recommending the
use Of bulk goods"
Pamphlet Given 20 Pupils.
The pamphlet to which the league
| objects was issued on January is and
was signed by Mr. Perkins and by
| Thomas W. Churchill. president OF the
Board Of Education. It was widely dis
tributed through the public schools. tine
pupils taking copies home to their
mothers.
The pamphlet set forth that food
| wrapped In attractive looking pa,n. ges
must necessarily cost more than the
same food sold in bulk for the reason
that the waKed paper. wrapper, printing
on the paper and filling and sealing OF
the package cost money. II said thai
| /, was possible for the grocer TO keep
on hand in bulk the same foods that the
packages contained In a perfectly san
tary manner so that dust and dir
couldn't reach them and strongly urged
the public to buy in bulk and thus save
money.
~ am afraid" said Mrs. Heath la 9,
! night, that Mr.. Perkins didn't study
the situation very carefully or he would
not have given such advice. I am very
sorry that the Board OF Education helped
him In the dissemination of this advice
before thinking out this matter for Il.
self,
THE FEDERAL and State Governments
have been making a study of this sub
iect for a number OF years as our pur,
food laws will testify. They have besr
working to secure purity and auali'S
and to hold the individual responsible
II housewives follow Mr.. Perkinss ad
vice they will undo the work OF years
on,- Assurance 80 Purity.
THE only way TO he assured Of pur.-,
and quality in foodsttiffs is to make tn,
, manufacturer responsible. We know
when We zee the manufacturers name OF
a package who Is responsible and cai
reach him II anything Is wrong with mi
goods How are you going TO tell who 4
responsible II YOU buy vinegar. oatmea
or anything else in bulk, as Mr.. Perkins
advises?
/ The twentieth century housewife II
not a producer. She does not put vi;
foodstuffs as her grandmother did. Sh
must know the goods she uses. Sh
can't know them IL they are not marked
To be Intelligent consumers we mus
, have supervision and inspection, and tina
. can only be when we know who PUTS VI
! our foodstuffs and the conditions undo
which they are prepared for the market
Many manufacturers are protesting
against Mr.. Perkins's advice on tn
ground that he is taking a stand no
favorable to insuring the taking o
proper sanitary measures in the prep
aration OF foods"