The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-30

tiesulisess In Grocery stores Ia.
sestial e. " hslesone Food ssppIy.
The food officials Of many States
are giving attention TO the sanitary
condition Of country and city grocery
stores. according TO the officials en-
gagged In tho enforcement Of the Fed
era, food and drugs act. who re-
Gently nave investigated the matter.
The country store IS both a collecting
and distributing agency Of foods. II
sells foods OF many kinds 10 the farm
ers and NJ the same time buys from
ihcm for shipment 20 the city butter.
eggs. fruits. vegetables. poultry and
other products OF the farm. II tine
shelves mr. counters aIe laden WIZ.
dust, If cobwebs hang In every nook
and corner, IL flies, bugs and vermin
inliabit the place. the food products
are certain to be more or less con-
terminated n Likely 20 become dan
Serous to health. The reports from
various State officials Indicate that
many stores have been found in the
past 10 lie in such n condition.
a clean. light. well ventilated store
attracts customers. and the progress
slve merchant needs 10 other .ncen-
tive TO keep his i!oor. shelves and couu-
ter spotlcssly clean, which includes
screening from flies and the elimina-
ton Of all other insects. Some store.
keepers. however, seem 10 require
p%rodding from fOod and health officials
to induce them to MAINTAIN that de-
cree Of cleanliness which will insure
that the food they handle will DO free
from contamination. Some Of the
! States have very effective sanitary
laws which require frequent inspec-
ton Of all establishments where food.
Stunts are put up. manufactured. or
kept for sale. Other States depend
upon the general provisions Of pure
food laws which require that foods
shall he free from contamination. \
few Of the States lack either a law
that will reach the unclean store null
sance or means for enforcing the law.
Cooperate for Cleanliness.
State food and health Official. have
used various means to control erec-
lively the sanitary condition of places
where foodstuns are sold. Ono OF the
most effective means that has heen
employed Is that OF securing the CO.
operation Of women's clubs and civic
organizations. When a delegation Of
women customers call upon q merchant
and they suggest that he clean up
he il compelled to put, his store IN
good condition and to keep it SO.
When the grocerymen In a town find
that a large portion OF the house
keepers are buying only from the
I.,A .k,~A tn,-A .....Ar ~ .,l-y
some form Of competition. A food
inspector can. under even the best
conditions. inspect a store but q few
times during the year. bceWuse Of thr
number lie has to visit The CUSTOM
ers cono every day, however. and
when they act as UNOFFICIAL sanitary
Inspectors the merchant with tho .un.
clcan store cannot escape detection
and punishment in loss Of trade.
Competition in cleanliness has beet
secured in one state by means Of col.
ored placards which the inspector
gives the merchants who keep theft
stores IL. sanitary condition. \ stvv.
, in excellent condition Ksts a , larry,
white, placard.' 'orrs IN fine c0pdittoi
gets a blue plaoard. and n In god,
: condition gets n red card: the stor,
that falls below the latter grading get,
nc card. The proprietors are per
mitted to keep the plaGards posted II
n conspicuous place a. long u th'
: store Ii Kept In the condition repre-
scented! There II keen competition
among tho mere !ants to get and keeI
tho hest placaris. The huying pul,
lie knows what. the different colors'
rla"ards signify ann are particularly
partial 10 the white picard storet
; Other States hav" adopted a car;
system similar to that used In grad
! ing diaries, The inspector scores sacl
store where foodstufs are sold accord