Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-11-14
FALSE REPORTS ABOUT CANNED
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
SET AT REST,

| FALSE KEPOhIS AbVUl CANNEu
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
SET AT REST.
Some false statements have been put
in circulation with reference to poi
soning from home canned fruits and
vegetables which might, If given cred
ence, materially effect the use of the
great amount of fruit and vegetables
canned during the past season.
The local branch of the Women 8
Council of Defense took the matte" up
with the Iowa State Agricultural Col
lege and this morning received the
following communication on the sub
ject from DR.. r. E. Buchanan, of the
Bacteriology Department: o.. q.
"Are home canned fruits, vegeta-
bles and meats ever responsible for
food poisoning, or so-called ptomaine
poisoning? A good deal of attention
is being devoted at the present time
to Investigations along this line, and
some housewives, and physicians too,
have been seized with kind of hys.er-
ia because of certain reports that have
been circulated. What are the facts
1--WE have been unable as yet to find
one single we'll authenticated instance
of. food poisoning in Iowa caused dur
ing the past year by home canned
products. This alone would indicate
that If such cases occur they must be
very rare, for millions of cans Of fruits
and vegetables are consumed every
year in this state.
at is true that there have been
cases of poisoning in the United States
at various times which have ascribed
and probably rightly, to the use of
certain canned foods. On the other
hand, many more cases OF food poison
ing have been traced to the use of
milk, cured and fresh meats, sausages,
cheese, ice cream and other foods
than to canned products. To condemn
home canned fruits and vegetables in
discriminatory is as absurd as to avoid
the use of milk.
THE following facts should, how
ever, be known to every housewife in
this connection:
1. Poisoning due to the use Of
home canned fruits very rarely if ever
occurs. A few cases have been re-
ported in the United States, but ade-
quate proof is lacking in most. The
acid nature, or sourness of fruits
makes it comparatively easy to ster-
ilize them. OF course, imperfect seal
ing or carelessness at any stage may
lead to moulding or to working" The
contents Of such jars shotild of course
be discarded. .......
2. Vegetables, particularly beans
peas and corn are more difficult to
can than are the fruits. They are not
sour, they do not contain much acid.
Nevertheless, if directions are care
fully followed, it will be an unusual
circumstance for the contents of can
to spoil. If one does ferment, or spoil,
the housewife should be sure that it
is destroyed, for it may cause serious
illness if eaten. 1t is questionable If
a can of vegetables ever spoils with
out the development of decided taint
easily detected.
8. Additional safeguard is also
thrown about the use of canned vege-
tables is that they are generally heat
ed before being served. The poisons
which might develop in a spoiled can
are completely destroyed and rem
dered harmless by boiling There can
never be the slightest apprehension
concerning the use of canned vege-
tables providing they are served hot.
1t is conceivable that tainted string
beans, for example, might be used in
salads without being heated and not
be detected. The danger even here is
certainly very slight
"In short, there is no good reason
for alarm concerning the use Of home
canned products. Millions of people
are doing it in perfect safety. Use
good judgment by discarding and des-
troying the contents Of spoiled cans.
If there is any question, heat before
serving.
"The department of Bacteriology is
making a study Of the bacteria res
ponsible for the spoilage of canned
vegetables and will be very grateful
for any samples of such material ex-
pressed to u.s."
DR.. R. e. BUCHANAN,