The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1920-06-18

of Agriculture. The charges Of the
Government we're upheld in 40 Of the
cases, but in one seizure action the
decision of the court was in favor OF
the claimant Of the goods.
Ten actions were based on the
adulteration of tomato products, such
as catsup, PURGE, pulp, paste and the
like. The most frequent charge was
that of decomposition resulting from
the use of moldy or rotten tomatoes
in preparing the products. The spe-
cialists of the Bureau of Chemistry
have given great deal of attention
to the improvement of tomato prod
ucts Not only have a large number
of prosecutions and seizures been
made, but experimental work and edu
cational campaigns have been con-
Quoted to aid the packers in develop
ing methods to eliminate all spoiled
tomatoes. There has been a marked
improvement in the saulity of such
products, but some packers, either as
the result of carelessness or from a
deliberate disregard of the require
ments of the law, still occasionally
use tomatoes unfit for food.
Eleven Actions on Stock Feed
Stock feed made from cottonseed
meal or cake was the basis of II
actions, the most frequent charge be-
ing that of misbranding, because Of
statements of the labels claiming a
higher percentage of protein than was
actually present in the feed. Since
the percentage of protein present in "a
stock feed is one of the factors in fix
ing the price, this form of misbranding
results in the feed being sold for a
higher price than it's feeding value
warrants. 1t is also misleading to
the stock raiser in determining d
proper feeding ration.
Canned salmon was the basis of
four seizures. Spoilage of the salmon
was the charge made in each seizure.
In three of the cases the Court ordered
the salmon destroyed, while in one
case the salmon was released for use
in the manufacture of fertilizer. Ill,
vestigations have shown that some
Gamers of salmon do not always take
proper sanitary methods in putting
up their products. Studies by the
specialists of the Bureau of Chemistry
to improve the methods of packing
salmon in order to prevent contamina-
ton are under way.
Fined $500 for Misbranded Vinegar
Other prosecutions and seizures COW
cred by the notices Of judgment in
clude a shipment of sardines, which
were destroyed because they consisted
in part of filthy, decompbsed, and
putrid animal matter, and three ship
ments of olive oil adulterated with
cottonseed oil. An artificial vinegar
labeled as cider vinegar resulted in
the party responsible for the violation
being fined $780, One shipper who
failed to appear to defend himself
on the charge of adding water to milk
was fined 5000 and COSTS A shipment
of milk from which part of the but
ter fat had been extracted resulted in
the party responsible being fined $40
and costs. A plea of nolo contendere
was made in answer to the charge BY
eggs composed in part of filthy, de-
composed and putrid animal matter,
and fine of $50 imposed by the court.
A shipment of decomposed apple but
ter was destroyed. Two shipments
of soaked ripe lima beans were seized,
as was shipment of gelatin, consist
ing partly of glue and containing cop
per and zinc.
Seven actions under the Food and
Drugs Act were based on the charge
of adulteration and misbranding Of
proprietary medicines. Fines ranging
from $40 to 500 were imposed in these
cases, the charge being in the main
that there were false and fraudulent
claims as to the curative powers of the
preparations. Three prosecutions
were based on the misbranding or
adulteration of mineral waters which
were recommended by the proprietors
for the treatmen of various diseases.
In one of these cases, in which the de-
PENDANT entered a plea of guilty, a
nominal fine of only one cent and costs
was imposed by the Court.
Charges of short weight were sus-
tanned against shipments of macaroni
and spaghetti Short weight was also
established in one shipment of olive
oil.