The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1916-12-26

land mislrandeI foods ANA drugs is
shown by the report of the chief of
the Bureau of Chemistry, just pub
Ushed. While the volume of import
ed foods and drugs has decreased
since the outbreak Of the war. the va
ricty of grades has increased. Like
wise the number Of shipments in pro
portion to the quantity is larger, for
it is now necessary for importers To
get from many sources the supplies
which previously could be obtained
from one place. One importer may
bring in twenty small shipments all
obtained in different places and Of
varying degrees of purity where pre-
viously he would have brought in the
same quantity in one shipment of
uniform quality, This makes it neces-
sary for the inspectors to look out for
and examine twenty shipments in
stead of one.
The high prices prevailing for GER
tain products which can be obtained
only from abroad, particularly spices
and crude drugs, has increased the
temptation to adultratc. According to
the Chief Chemists report shipments
OF corander, fennel, celery, anise,
cumin. Chinese and Indian mustard,
senna leaves, cinchona, ipecac and
,,ynInats Fpnnl In hn until-
terated and were denied entry into
this country. Many shipments of
medicines were found to be misbrand
ed. the labels containing false or
fraudulent claims as to the curative
powers, and such shipments We're de-
tanned until the misbranding was cor
rected. Among other articles of food
found to be in violation of the law
may be mentioned decompOsed tOma-
to pastes and products, spoiled sar-
dimes, wormy olives, olive oil, pepper,
macaroni, and beverages. Special at
tention was given 10 milk imported
from Canada into the New England
state. There was a marked improve
ment IN the wholesomeness Of this
milk during the year owing to the
exclusion Of shipments Of contamin-
ated milk produced under insanitary
conditions.
Branch laboratories are maintain
ed 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,
in 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
Iadulterated or misbranded. The in
spectors scrutinize all invoices of
food and drug products that come to
this country. The foreign shipper is
required to certify to certain facts e.
garding his foods and drugs before a
United States consular officer, and
these certificates are attached to the
invoices. II the examination Of the
invoices and accompanying certifi-
Gates leads the United States inspec-
tors to suspect that the foods or drugs
are adulteratod or misbranded,
samples are taken for analysis and
the shipment held until it has been
determined whether the goods are in
violation Of the law.
The important section Of the Food
and Drugs Act, in addition TO the re-
quirements applied 10 domestic pro
ducts, provides that no foods or drugs
shall be admitted to this country
which are otherwise dangerous To the
health Of the people OF the United
States or of a kind forbidden entry
into or forbidden 10 be sold or re-
stricted in sale in the country in
which they are made or from which
they are exported. or are otherwise
falsely labeled in any respect. When
goods offered for import are found to
be in violation OF the law. the import
er is notified and given an oppOrtuni-
Ity to be heard before the officers Of
/ the Department in order that he may
present any evidence he desires as 10
why the goods should not De denied
entry into the United States. After
the hearing. if the Department is
still of the opinion that the goods are
in violation Of the law because Of
adulteration, they are refused entry
into this country; or. il misbranded,
they are required to be labled correct
lly before being admitted. All the
work on imported foods and drugs
is handled in cooperation with the