The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-03-17
BAN DUST AND FLIES, DEMANDS BOWLING
City Health Officer Dis cusses Ordinance With
 Butchers and GrOcers

Dr. J. D. Bowling, city health officer.
 last night informed the Retail Grocers and Butchers Association that it's mem bers must:
 Sell their meats direct from the re- fyigerator, and not display their wares to the customers unless it is constantly under refrigeration.
 Sell fruit and such food products as are not cooked, peeled or otherwise pre- pared before eating, from containef which will be dust-proof and fly-proof.
 Members of the association, gathered at the quarters of the Civic Association. were highly interested in the remarks of Dr. Bowling, who came there at their request to explain the provisions of the rev food ordinance recently enacted by the city commission.
 pr. Bowling explained first that the interpretation of the ordinance would be subject to the practical aplication of it's provisions He depended on the grocers and butchers, he said, to cooperate with the health department in making the or dinance workable.
 He told the grocers and butchers, that. first, their places must be screened against flies; that, second, their wares must be protected against dust, which was responsible for the majority Of cases of tubercular infection.
 How about the city's carload of fish. which was sold from unscreened cars, to customers who might wrap up their fish in paper picked up from the streetY' one member of the association asked. ' That is a question beyond the juris- diction of my department, said Dr, Bowling, You will have to take 1t up with your representatives in the city government"
 Anyway, said the grocers, they were willing to cooperate with Dr. Bowling in preserving the public health, but they wanted to be informed whether they would have to buy patented refrigerated showcases before they could sell meats, and whether they could display apples, raisins, grapes and similar products without protection against dust, in spite of the fact that they had their places screened against flies.
 Dust and flies, said pr. Bowling, swere the pet abominations of the health de- partment, and the grocers and butchers must find means to combat both.
 In such a case, said the butchers. their meats must not be displayed at all before sale and in such case said the grocers, their raisins, grapes, apples, and all ioods, whether fruit or otherwise, that are not customarily peeled, cooked, or otherwise prepared before eating. must either be displayed in glass showcases or hidden under coverings which will protect and hide them from the public gaze.
 The upshot of the matter was that the Retail Grocers and Butchers Association decided to appoint q committee of six butchers and six grocers who will confer with Dr. Bowling as to the practicai ap- nlication of the new food ordinance.
 q shall be glad to meet this comVit- tee" said pr. Bowling, 'I don't think that the health department will be will ing to modify this law so far as the public health is concerned, but we wan' the advice of the grocers and butchers as to the practical application of it's pro visions We are willing to meet you half way. I am gratified by the spirit tha, has been displayed at this meeting. am sure that you have the public healtf at heart"
 The committee of twelve will be ap pointed by w M Goodwin, president o the association at once and conference will follow at the city hall.