Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-05-26
Not PICKERING Strings,
But Alum in Pickles

II do not think that there is any
thing in the district court ruling
which you quoted in your letter that
should be allowed to interfere in any
way with the regulation which your
department requires, authorizing the
use Of alum in pickles." states Attor-
ney General VIM. r. Pattangan of Au
gusta. in an opinion rendered in re-
spouse to a letter from A. M. G. Soule
of Augusta, chief of the Bureau Of
Inspection in the enforcement Of the
pure food laws.
Chief SouIe's Communication.
Chief Soule's communication bear
ing on the matter is as follows:
Under Chapter 119 of the public
laws Of 1911, as amended by the pub
lie laws of 1918, Chapter 40, we have
Section 10 outlining the duties Of the
Commissioner in fixing standards Of
purity when such standards are not
fixed by law or otherwise specified
Acting under the direction Of this sta.
tute, the executives Of the law in the
past and the present have definitely
defined the standard preservatives that
may be legally used in connection with
loOu pIouuClS. Cdlt, sugar, NlIGSdI,
spices and their essential oils, wood
smoke, edible oils and fats, and alco-
hol.
"A further ruling in connection with
preservatives Is that Alum may be
used in limited amount in pickles pro.
vided it's presence and amount is
plainly stated on the label AS far as
it has been physically possible to en-
force this regulation. the deputies of
this department have insisted thar
manufacturers of pickles containing
alum must indicated it's presence when
selling their products by stating the
fact upon the labels, it has also been
| required that dealers shall follow this
rlan when selling pickles containing
alum to the consumer and it has been
determined by inspection as to wheth-
er this regulation has been carried out.
After considerable scientific ex-
pertinent. the following announcement
by the Federal Bureau Of Chemistry
relative to the use of alum in pickles,
with conclusions, has been made:
THE board came to the conclusion
that the amount of alum which ra-
mains in pickles and is therefore con-
sumed is SO small as to be negligible.
From the information at hand it also
appears that alum is almost universal
ly used in the preparation of pickles
and may, therefore, be considered q
common ingredient of such products
| I'm view Of these facts, this bureau
offers no objection to the use Of a
small amount Of alum in the preserva-
ton of pickles.
| I'm view of the fact of such rulin,
by the federal authorities, l am asking
for your opinion as to whether or not
the regulation as made by the State
executive could be enforced in court
I should be glad, if the opportunity is
afforded, to present to You the brief
submitted by a pickle manufacturer
Quilting their attitude with reference to
this ruling. and any other data which
may have concerning the subject
which may be Of service to you in rem
dering your opinion"
| Mr.. PattangaIPs Reply.
The reply of Attorney General Pat
tangall to Chief Soule is as follows:
Replying to yours Of recent date, I
DO not think that there is anything in
the district court ruling which you
quoted in your letter that should be al
lowed to interfere in any way with the
regulation which your department re-
quires, authorizing the use of alum in
pickles.