The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-10-06

CURED in an eastern city. The stare
health authorities were immediately
sent to make an investigation which
lasted for several weeks before the
cause of the epidemic was found.
Then the typhoid germs were discoV-
cred in a popular brand of CONNER
cial ice cream sold at most OF the
drug stores and soda fountains CT
that locality. A visit to the dairy
from which the ice cream factory pro-
cured its supply of milk showed the
milk to be infected.
Guarding Against Ptomaine.
Only a few months ago, moreover.
ptomaine poisoning broke out IN
training camp. The food served the
men during the day was carefully
gone over by the health authorities,
but they could find nothing wrong
with it, Later, it transpired that sew
eral men who had been off duty dur
ing the day and hence had not eaten
the camp food were afflicted also All
of the ptomaine poisoning victims.
however had eaten ice cream sold by
an ice cream peddler, who had visited
the camp.
After that no food peddler of any
kind was permitted on the camp res
ervation, and the commissary depart
ment was informed that no more ice
cream should be served at any COM
pany mess unless it had been mace oy
the company'S own chef. Furtner-
more, 1t must De indoe ltoiii
milk.
In this connection it is interesting
to note that many states now forbid
the peddIing of commercial ice cream
by hokey-pokey carts. 1t is thought
that hokey-pokey cones and sand
witches are the direct agency for
spreading many dangerous diseases
among children.
Commercial" ice cream today, in
deed. must reach a high grade of
perfection in order to comply with
the high standards set for it by vari-
Gus states Pennsylvania has just
finished a lawsuit started by the ice
cream men of the state, who protest
ed against a mandate providing that
all commercial ice cream should con-
tain at least per cent of butter fat.
The ice cream men insisted that
such a law was unjust, and not in ac-
cordance with the fourteenth amend
ment of the constitution; that so long
as they sold wholesome product the
state had no right to complain. But
the court upheld the state. 1t held
that the state was quite within its
authority in issuing such a mandate
under it's police power. When people
bought ice cream, the court main
tanned, they expected to get a product
containing some cream, and not some
clever manipulation of yolks and
whites of eggs, sugar, syrup and va
nilla bean. There was nothing to
| prevent the manufacturers selling
such a product under some other
name, said the court, but it was no
more entitled to be sold as ice cream
than oleomargarine was to be sold as
| butter.
| Curiously enough, the per cent
compulsion law of Pennsylvania is
one of the lowest averages set by the
states in this matter. Only eight
I,o
Five other states set IL per cent as
the percentage of butter fat to be con-
| tanned in commercial ice cream, and
| thirteen states set IS per cent as the
minimum.
Thus the states as we'll as the ma
| tional government are keenly alive to
the dangers of inferior ice cream and
soda, which recently have become a
| considerable problem. For the con-
sumption of soft drinks has become
the most popular of American pas
| times, next to going to the movies.
But, like the movies, it is in need of
censorship. The movement for sani-
tary fountains should not be confined
to few states and government train
ing camps. Every American should
| insist upon his sanitary soda
Questions on the above or any SUBJ
| Ject Gpon which the reader desires in
| form alton should be addressed the To-
! peka State Journal Information Bu-
reau. Frederic J. Haskin, Director,
| Washington. D. c., with 2-cent stamp
enclosed for reply.