Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-05-20
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tating court proceedings against sar-
dine packers and successfully main
tanning cases against some OF them, no
prosecutions were made.
I'VE did, however, attempt to advise
sensibly. carefully avoiding recommen-
dations for the installation Of expen-
sive equipment or any over-nice ideas"
says Chief Soule in his report. I'VE did
not recommended that q manicurist
should be in attendance at all fac
tories, but the packers were continual
ly advised as to the proper selection of
fish, and as for sanitation, our recon-
mendations were for clearly and con-
venient toilets and dressing rooms,
that soap and clean towels should al
ways be available, the discontinuance
of the use Of the common drinking cup
and the installation of sanitary drink
ing fountains
Continuing, Chief Soule says:
aside from any duty to enforce the
food laws charged to US, feel that it
should be our ambition, and that we
should be particularly anxious. to over
come the prejudice against the Maine
product and Cooperate with the pack
ers in securing for Maine sardines a
reputation that can be referred to with
pride. If such conditions can be secur-
ed, it must mean a great demand, a
greater production and therefore
greater revenue must result. In 1909
Maine produced nine-tenths of the to-
tai sardines packed in the United
States and the total value of the prod
uct for that year (and it is believed
that it has been considerably increas-
ed since) was $4,000, 224. I feel safe in
asserting that with a change of meth
DDS to secure the conditions as above
described, this revenue will be
doubled
Chief Soule in his report speaks as
follows on the collection Of food sam
pies. flavoring extracts, vinegar, CLAIMS
and oysters and ice cream:
COLLECTION OF FOOD SAMPLES.
Some Of the food products collected
for analysis have included maple syr-
up, molasses, sausage, condensed milk,
fiavoring extracts Gncluding practical
ly all f1avors, vanilla, lemon, almond.
peppermint and checkerberry), olive
oil, bottled soda, clans, oysters, seal
lops. ice cream, vinegar, etc.
! THE sampling Of oysters, CLANS, ice
cream, vinegar and flaNorins extracts
has been general. collections haV:rS
been made throughout the State. The
other articles mentioned have heen talk
en- as the result of some complaint or
some other special reason.
FLAvORING EXTRACTS.
about go samples Of flavoring ex
tracts were collected. An attempt was
made to secure from the dealers goods
manufactured within the State as We II
as the products of manufacturers To-
Gated beyond its borders and we also
endeavored to secure from the various
druggists products of their own man
ufacture. Not only the )ure vanilla and
other f1avors were Obtained but sew
eral of the limitations were found: in a
very few cases the necessary branding
indicated that it was an imitation
product but quite frequently--proba-
bly, due to the fact that they were old
soods-the result Of the analyses show
uct.
The newest phase Of this statute,
and one which has been treated up to
the rime of the taking these samples
in an entirely educational way, is the
net weight law The opportunity mas
now being given to judge now general
ly this statute has been complied with.
and the results of these collections,
giving as they have an opportunity t.
note the labels and the particular Ian
suage used as we'll as to test the truth
OF the statements regarding the guam
titv of the contents, have been oartic-
ularly gratifying.
1T seems necessary to call attention
particularly to a case of misbranding,
where the carton was labelled plainly
with the words Extract of Vanilla"
and with smaller type the language in
dicating that vanilln colored with car
amel had been added. On the other side
appeared the word "Vanillin" in tyre
nearly as large. while the bottle label
showed the words Vanilla" and Va
nillin colored with caramel" the wofls
"Nanillin colored with Caramel being
in much smaller type.
, VINEGAR.
THE taking Of vinegar samples was
carried on during the winter and
spring and in each instance the inspec-
tor making the purchase asked for a
quart of cider vinegar. The results Of
| the analysis of these samples were re-
ported at once to the bureau and adult
Grated and misbranded cases were in
vestigated. A few cases Of short meas
ure were reported. 1t is greatly to be
regretted that a large amount Of the
vinegar which came under our obser-
walton was purchased from manufac-
turers outside the State.
| CLANS AND OYSTERS.
i THE oyster situation is considerably
! improved but there Is still, however, a
great chance for improvement in the
methods Of dispensing clans. the re-
suits Of analysis in many cases nav
ing shown that the clans had been al
| lowed to remain in water and mad thus
been swollen. All these cases were
promptly investigated
ICE CREAM.