Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-12-27
WAR HAS CAUSED AN
INCREASED WATCH
PURE FOOD LAWS

WASHINGTON, d. c., Dec. 27.--That
increased vigilance on the part of Of
fcials in charge of the enforcement of
the Food and Drugs Act is required by
conditions brought about by the Euro
pean war to prevent shipment into
the United States of adulterated and
misbranded foods and drugs is shown
by the report of the Chief of the Blu
reau Of Chemistry, just published.
While the volume OF imported foods
and drugs has decreased since the
outbreak of the war, the fariety OF
grades has increased. Likewise the
number of shipments in proportion to
the quantity is larger, for it is now
necessary for imports to get from
many sources the supplies which pre-
viously could be obtained from one
place. One imported may bring in
twenty small shipments all obtafsed in
different places and of varying de-
gree Of purity. where previously he
would have brought in the same guam
tity in one shipment of uniform quail
ity. This makes it necessary for the
inspectors to look out for and examine
twenty shipments instead of one.
The high price prevailing for GER
tain products which can be obtained
only from abroad, particularly spices
and crude drugs, has increased the
temptation to adulterate. According
to the Chief Chemists report ship
ments of coriander, fennel, celery. an
Use. cumin. Chinese and Indian mus
tard, SIENNA leaves, cinchona, ipecac
and other products were found to be
adulterated and were denied entry in
to this country. Many shipments of
medicines were found to be misbrand-I
ed, the labels containing false or
fraudulent claims as to the curative
powers, and such shipments were
detained until the misbranding was
corrected. Among other articles of
food found to be in violation of the.
law may be mentioned decomposed to-
mato pastes and products, spoiled sar-
dimes, wormy olives. olive oil. pepper,
macaroni and beverages Special at
tention was given to milk imported
from Canada into the New England
states. There was marked improve
ment in the wholesomeness of this
milk during the year owing to the
exclusion of shipments of cintaminat-
ed milk produced under insanitary
conditions.
Imported Articles To BE Analysed.
Branch laboratories are maintained
by the Bureau of Chemistry at the
principal ports of entry, such as New
York, Boston, New Orleans, Philadel-
phia, San Francisco, and many others,
ir order that analysis may be made Of
samples OF such shipments of foods
and drugs offered for entry into this
country as are suspected Of being adult
terated or misbranded. The inspec-
tors scrutinize all invoices of food and
drug products that come to this coun-
try. The foreign shipper is required
to certify to certain facts regarding
bis food and drugs before United
States consular officer, and these GER
ificates are attached to the invoices.
Ii the examination of the invoices and
accompanying certificates lead the
United States inspectors to suspect
that the foods are adulterated or mis-
branded, samples are taken for analys.
is and shipments held until it has
been determined whether the goods
are in violation of the law.
The import section Of the Food and
Drugs Act, in addition to the require
ments applied to domestic products,
pr Divides that no goods or drugs shall
be admitted to this country which are
otherwise dangerous to the health OF
the pople of the United States or of
kind forbidden entry into or forbidden
to be sold or restricted in sale in the
country in which they are made or
from which they are exported, or are
otherwise falsely labeled in bany re-
spects. When goods offered for inn
port are found to be in violation OF
the law. the importer is notified and
given an opportunity to be heard be-