Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-07-18
q CLEAN FOOD SHOPS
Cleanliness and Sanitation in Grocery
Stores Essential to Wholesome
Food Supply.


The food officials of many states arc
giving atten ion to the sanitary oOndt
tion of country and city ,grocery
stores, according to the officials en-
gagged in the enforcement of the Fed
eral Food and Drugs Act who recently
have investigated the matter. The
country store is both collecting and
distributing agency of foods. II sells
foods Of many kinds TO the farmers
and az the same time buys from them
for shipment to the city huttes, eggs,
fruits, vegetables, poultry, and other
products OF the farm II the shelves
and counters are laden with dust, if
cobwebs hang in every nook and cor
ner, if flies, bugs. and vermin inhabit
the place. the food products are Ger
tain 10 lee more or Jess contaminated
and likely 70 become dangerous 10
health The reports from various
State officials indicate that many
stores have been found in the past to
be in such condition.
A clean. light. well.ventilated store
attracts customers, and the progress.
i've merchant needs no other incentive
20 keep his floor, shelves. and counters
spOtlessly clean. which includes
screening from flies and the elimina-
ton OF all other insects Some store
keepers, however. seem 10 require
prodding from food-and health officials
TO induce them to maintain that de-
gree of cleanliness which will insure
that the food they handle viii be free
from contamination Some Of the
States have very effective sanitary
laws, which require frequent inspec-
ton of all establishments where food
stuns are put up, manufactured, or
kept for sale. Other States depend up
on the general provisions OF puro-food
laws which require that foods shall be
free from contamination. A few Of
the States lack either law thar will
reach the Wcleanstore nuisance or
means for enforcing the law.
State food and health officials have
used various means to control effeC.
lively the sanitary condition OF places
where foodstuffs are sold. One Of the
most effective means thar has been
employed is that Of securing the CO.
operation of WOmen's clubs and civic
organizations. When a delegation of
chant and suggests that he clean up
he is r mpelled TO put his store in
good condition and to keep il so. When
The grOcerymen III a town find that a
large portion Of the hOusekCepers are
buying only from the cleaneSt stores,
there arises a wholesome form of com
petition. A food inspector can, under
even the best conditions, inspect a
store hut a few times during the year.
because of the number he has to visit
The customers come every day, how
ever, and when they act as unofficial
sanitary inspectors the merchant with
the unClean store can not escape de-
lection ana punishment in loss OF
trade.
Competition in cleanliness has beer
secured in one State by means O
coored pacards which the inspector
: gives the merchants who keep theu
+ stores in a sanitary condition. A store
in excellent condition gets a large
-, white iacard, one n fine condition
gets a blue placard. and one in goot
condition gets a red card; the stor(
that falls below the latter gradins
gets no card The pruprietors are per
mitted to keep the placarda posted ir
a conspicuous place as long as tbJ
store in kept in the condition repre-
g scented. There is keen competition
o among the merchants to get and keel
the best placards The buying public
knows what the different colored pla
h cards signify and are particularly par
tial to the white plaCard stores, Othei
States have adopted a score-card sys
s. tenn similar to that used in gradn.
n dairies The inspector scores eaci
a store wher foodstuHs are sold accord
ing 20 certain points indicated in a.
q. INSPECTION card The scores are made
, pubic through the local press Or b,
means of bulletins or circulars.
The sanitary condition of stores Il
subject to State or local control Thu
Federal Food and Drugs Act has NJ