The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1918-01-11
Fantastic Tales Concerning
Them Exploded by Federal
Government.
PRO-GERMANs SPREAD LIES
Homo Gamers Of America Prove Pa
trIotIsm In Meeting Emergency
Billion Cans Of Food on PAN
try Shelves Today.
BY FREDERIC ]. HAskiN.

Wuhnl0RtOu.-lutTe hfe l,vVOfoDV'-
600 cans Of home-caEned fruits and
vegetables on the pantry shelves OF
American homes today. Those billion
cans are n huge monument to patriot
| ism and the speed and efficiency with
which democratic America can rally
to meet an emergency. They are
weight of some size on the spirit OF
German autocrncy and colossal STUN
bling block In the path OF Germany's
march to world domination. They are
the most important collection Of cans
the world has ever seen. And II is vi
tnlly important that the American peo-
pie should realize that those cans are
cans OF good food. safe to use, safe to
eat, and that certain fantastic tales be-
! Ing circulated concerning them are ut
I terly without foundation.
! The home Gamers OF America can
ned 1.000,000.000 cans OF fruits and
vegetables this year. Next year, II all
\ goes well and the spirit OF the people
remains equal TO the tasks OF war,
( they will can one and one-half billion
\ cans OF fruits and vegetables. This Is
war measure and one of vital impor-
lance. Any tale or rumor which tends
TO discourage the use OF this years bill
( lion cans, or the preservation OF next
years billion and half cans. Is Of aid
h and comfort 10 the enemy, although II
may, IN some instances, be reported In
all good faith.
Some OF the rumors are so ridiculous
4 that few people will believe them.
Here are few that have been dis
covered. Investigated and exploded by
authorities Of the federal government: :
Exhibit A is the tale. circulated early
In the canning season. that a part OF
the glass jurs and rubber rings in use
had been poisoned by German spies.
Tale Spreads Fast.
Exhibit II Is a rumor of immense
persistence and vitality. TO the effect
that the government II going to seize
home-canneds foods. This tale Is sur
prislngly widespread. judging by the
number OF anxious letters concerning
II that come to the government depart
mants. the federal food administration
and the various newspaper bureaus In
Washington. Whether the story was
started. as most people here believe,
deliberately TO hamper the coming
campaign and render II less effective,
or whether II simply arises from an ut
ter misconceptlon OF the nature of the
food and Its purposes. Is not impor-
tant. What is important Is that the
story Is not true. The government Is
not going TO selze any home-canned
foods.
A story related to this last is a re-
port that the government is eontem-
plating war tax on home-canned
fruits and vegetables. Careful inves-
tigntion here hns failed TO show the
slightest basis for this report
Perhaps the most annoying report
that has been making its unpatriotc
rounds Is the report TINT fruits and
vegetables canned by what is known
as the '.one-period, cold-pack method
are liable TO be unsafe as food.
For those who have canned foods OF
this sort on their pantry shelves the fol-
lowing absolutely authoritative state
ment is offered by way of reinsurance
''The cold-pack method processes have
been used for FIVE years and not sim
gle death or serious illness has result
] ed from the consumption of food saved
according to its direction"
sBolllnuw Saves Much.
OF course certain amount of COM
mon sense is needed in the use OF
canned foods, just as II is needed In
crossing the street or getting Off a rail-
way train. Fruits or vegetables which
show any signs of decay should not be
canned. Canned fruits or vegetables
whose looks or taste, or odor when the
can is opened. might Indicate that they
/ are spoiled, are perhaps best thrown
away by the inexperienced Gamer ;
although experienced housewives often
make use OF canned fruits that show
mold, for example, by "boillng them
over" before putting them on the Ia
BILE.
This last process suggests the name
of "vacillus botulinus"-a germ In a
fair way to gain some small reputa-
ton. In recent number Of a medical
journal there appeared an article on
"botulism," disease which may be
contracted by eating spoiled canned
fruits or vegetables.
/ 1t should be clearly understood that
botulism is one Of the very rare mala-
| dies. The chances for contracting 1t
by eating canned goods, say the ex-
perts, are rather less than the chances
Of dying from lockjaw every time you
scratch your finger.
The long-and-short Of this whole
matter of canned food is that there is
no more danger from eating It this
year than there was In any other year.
II you want to take extra precautions.
recook canned foods little before
using them. Remember, too. that
homecoming Is great help in win
ming the war, and get behind next
years canning campaign.