The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1920-05-29
MANY PUNISHED
UNDER FOOD ACT.
Government Loses But One Out
of so Cases Prosecuted In
Federal Courts.
ADULTERAT|ON IS CHARGED
Use Of Spoiled Tomatoes in CANNING
Is Basis Of Ten Cases-Misbrand-
ing Of Vinegar Results in
Fine Of $500.

Fine Of $500.
Washington-Fifty food and drug
cases are reported as having been
terminated in the federal courts in a
recent service and regulatory an
| nouncement supplement of the bureau
OF chemistry, United States depart
ment Of agriculture. The charges of
the government were 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 adul-
teration 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 products. Not
| only have a large number of prose-
cutions and seizures been made, but
| experimental work and educational
campaigns have been conducted to aid
the packers in developing methods to
| eliminate all spoiled tomatoes. There
has been a marked improvement in the
quality Of such products, but some
packers, either as the result Of care
leSsness or from a deliberate disre-
| gard to the requirements 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 eleven
| actions, the most frequ ent charge be-
Ing that Of misbranding, because OF
statements on the labels claiming a
higher percentage Of protein than was
actually present in the feed. Since tho
percentage Of protein present in
a stock feed is one of the factors
In fixing the price, this form Of mis-
branding results in the feed being sold
for higher price than its feeding
value warrants. It is also misleading
| to the stock raiser in determining
proper feeding ration.
Canned salmon was the basis of
AONA oSAHuA OpOAAdSC VI Ilc SdluOH
was the charge 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. In
| vestigations have shown that some
Gamers of salmon do not always
take proper sanitary methods in put
ting up their product. Studies by the
specialists Of the bureau Of chemistry
to improve the methods of packing
salmon in order to prevent contamin-
alton are under way.
Fined for Msbranded Vinegar. :.
Other prosecutions and seizures
covered by the notices Of judgment
include shipment of sardines which
were destroyed, because they consisted
in part Of filthy, decomposed, 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 $500. One shipper who
failed to appear to defend himself on
the charge Of adding water to milk
WAS fined $500 and costs. A shipment
Of milk from which part Of the butter
tat had been extracted resulted in tho
party responsible being fined $40 and
costs. A plea Of nolo contendere was
made in answer to the charge by the
government Of shipping frozen eggs
composed partly Of filthy, decom-
posed. 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 which were
sold as green lima beans were seized
as was shipment Of gelatin consist
ing partly Of glue and containing COD.
per and zinc.
| Seven actions under the food and
drugs act we're based on the charge Of
adulteration and misbranding of
proprietary medicines Fines rang
ing from $40 to 500 were imposed in
these cases, the charge being in the
main that there we're false and fraud
ulent claims as to the curative powers
of the preparations. Three prosecu-
tons we're based on the misbranding
or adulteration Of mineral waters
which were recommended by the pro-
prietors for the treatment Of various
diseases. In one Of these cases I'M
which the defendant entered a plea
Of guilty, a nominal fine Of only 4
cent and costs was imposed by the
court.
Charges Of short weight were sus-
tanned against shipments Of macaronf
and spaghetti. Short weight was also
established in one shipment Of olive
oil.