Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-01-02
INSPECT IMPORTED
FOOD AND DRUGS.

FOOD AND DRUGS.
WASHINGTON, u. c, jan. 2.-Ihat
increased vigilance on the part OF OIL
ficials in charge of the enforcement !.
OF the Food and Drugs Act Is required
by conditions brought about by the
European war to prevent shipment
into the United States OF ACCELERATED
and misbranded foo nd drugs Isl
shown by the report of the Chief OF
The Bureau of Chemistry. just pub
lished While the volume of imported
foods and drugs has decreased since
the outbreak OF the war, the variety of
grades has increased. Likewise the
number of shipments in proportion to-
the quantity is larger, tcr ii is now
necessary for importers TO get from
many sources the supplies which pre-.
yiously could be obtained from one
place. One importer may bring in
twenty small shipments all obtained in
different places and of varying de
grees Of purity where previously he
would have brought in the same guam
tity in one shipment of uniform quail.
ty This makes ii necessary for the
inspectors TO look out for and examine
twenty shipments instead 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 adulterate. According
to the Chief Chemists report ship I,
ments of coriander. fennel, celery,
anise, cumin, Chinese and Indian mus
tard, SIENNA leaves, cinchona, ipecac
and other products were found to be
adulterated and were denied entry into
this country. Many shipments of
medicines were found to be misbrand
ed, the labels containing false or frau
dulent claims as to the curative pow
ers, 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 men
toned decomposed tomato pastes and
products, spoiled sardines, wormy
olives, olive oil, pepper. macaroni, and
beverages. Special attention was Civ
en- to milk imported from Canada into
the New England States. There was a
marked improvement in the whole.
someness of this milk during the year
owing TO the exclusion of shipments of
contaminated milk produced under in,
sanitary conditions.
Branch laboratories are maintained
by the Bureau of Chemistry at the
principal ports of entry, such as New
York, Boston. New Orleans. Philadol
phia, San Francisco, and many others
In order that analysis may be made oi
samples of such shipments of foods
and drugs offered for entry into this
country as are suspected of being adul
terated of misbrandCd. The inspectors
scrutinize all invoices OF food and drug
products that come to this country
The foreign shipper is required to Ger.
tify to certain facts regarding his
foods and drugs before United States
consular officer, and these certificates
are attached to the invoices. If the
examination of the invoices and &C.
companying certificates leads the
United States inspectors to suspect
that the foods or drugs are adulter-
ated or misbranded samples are taken
for analysis and the shipment held un-
I'll II 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.
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 q
kind forbidden enry into or forbidden
TO be sold or restricted in sale in the
country in which they are made OF
from which they are exported. or ar,
otherwise falsely labeled In anv re-
spect When goods offered for jmporr
PIE found to be in violation of the law
the importer Is notified and given M
opportunity to be heard before the of
Ulcers On the Department i'm order tina
ne may present any evidence he de
sires as to why the goods should no
be denied entry into the United state.
After the hearing. Il the Department
sun OF the opinion that the goods ar
IN violation of the law because OF adu
teration. they are refused entry int
TINS country; or, IL misbranded. tho
are required to be labeled correctly b
fore being admitted An the work q
imported foods and drugs is handl,
IN cooperation with the customs Of
GERS OF the Treasury Department.
The Excelsior Brewery Of ST. Lou
mas closed because, as It's manag
said: Prohibition is inovitabion