The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-10-06
Read the
Label Carefully

Read the Labels" Those three
words comprise the best advice that
can be given the housewife as a
protection against food impositions.
The law specifies that the labels
must tell the truth. The general
composition OF food product.
whether or not Il contains chemical
preservatives. artificial colorings or
ethereal flowers. may all be deter.
mined by reading the label carefully.
Furthermore, the label must state
the net weight OF the products.
Therefore, it not only affords a pro.
lection against food adulteration.
but also against the very prevalent
shortweight fraud
Coming right down TO II, the Ma.
tional Food law has proved itself to
be little more than a label law. K
does not prohibit authorizations. bat
provides that when a food contains
chemical preservatives or colorings.
or is a compound" imitation" or
blend the fact must be stated on
the label
From these facts it has been found
that the National Food Law gives the
best protection 10 people who buy
package foods and reside In a large
city, and least 10 those who purchase
their foods in bulk and live in small
towns or the country.
Under the provisions of the Ma.
tional law the tell-tale label is, con.
tanned only on the Original pack
age II the grocer divides the
original package up into small pack
ages they need not contain the label
and foods sold in paper sacks, car
tons, and the like contains no label.
OF course. That Is why the house
wife who buys molasses, dried ap.
pies, vinegar. pickles. and such pro-
ducts in bulk, often gets very poor
goods. The bulk foods may contain a
label on the barrel or key or sack
or carton when they enter the retail
store. but the housewife rarely has
a chance TO look behind the counter
to read this label.
Any food product. however packed.
that does not cross a state line does
not come within the province OF the
National Food Law. That is one OF
the main reasons why II gives such
meager protection to most OF the
small towns and rural districts. The
city draws It's supplies mainly
through interstate commerce. Not so
the rural community.
THE help that Federal inspectors
can extend to the rural communities.
therefore. Is absolutely limited to
those settlements which happen to
be near the borders OF the state, and
80 receive some OF their easily con-
taminated foods. through interstate
commerce." says DR.. Carl l.. Alsberg.
Chief OF the ". s. Bureau OF Chem
istry. THE rural communities In
the hearts OF the states seldom OBJ
tain these unlabeled and possibly
dangerous foods through interstate
shipment. They get their food OF
this kind almost wholly in domestic
commerce. Their milk comes from
nearby farms. Their meats, IL not
slaughtered locally. comes from
nearby cities. Their fish and she'll.
fish may be shipped to them from
sea-food centers in the nearest large
towns within their state borders
People OF rural districts also eat
less Of package and canned foods
than city people; this Is one OF the
main reasons of their receiving poor
er protection.
Such are some Of the more import.
ant aspects OF the food situation as
1t exists today. We hope the time
IL not far distant when all both in
the city and country will be protect.
ed against contaminated foods. I'm
I'll that time, however. we find the
greatest safety In package foods and
\ oarofSs1 oh~o rvaf I'm NJ tha iahe1