Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-05-16
Report of Chief SOule
Division of Inspection

DIVISION OF inspection
A. M. G. Soule of Augusta, chief of
the Bureau of Inspection of the
Maine Department of Agriculture, IN
his annual report which has been
filed with the Governor and Council,
declares that the use of saccharin in
food, offered for sale, and especially
in carbonated beverages, which real
ly contain such a small amount of
food value, is a vicious practice.
Not only has saccharin been ad-
judged by eminent authorities as a
menace to health, and on this ground
could be very well condemned, but
when used as a substitute for sugar,
constitutes the preparation of a
fraud and imposition upon the con-
sumer," said Mr.. Soule Saturday.
Bottled sodas and soft drinks Of
all kinds, if manufactured with
sugar do contain food constituents
in small amounts. If manufactured
with saccharin, no food value is in
sured. The use of such a substitute
can we'll be regarded as a punishable
offence.
aside from the collection of sam
pies and inspections, endeavor has
been made to interest the bottlers in
the installation of soakers, an equip
ment for steriliZing containers. No
doubt. great possibilities or spreading
disease abound through the sale of
bottled soda, providing the containers
are not thoroughly sterilized.
wherever food is dispensed, in
grocery stores and markets, the dep
uties of this department have made
numerous inspections, reporting as to
the general condition of the place, the
| cleanliness of the walls, floors,
shelves and counters, the condition of
meat rooms and refrigerators, and
the general habits observed as to the
proper labelling of lard. molasses,
sausage and vinegar when sold IN
substitution for the real article. Al
ter repeated warnings, it has been
our unpleasant duty to cite hearing
at least four grocers who persisted
in maintaining stores SO filthy and
dirty that they were dangerous to
public health. and in these instances
they each paid fine.
"a great many technical violations
have been treated in an educational
way. and hundreds of letters, re-
minding the owners of grocery stores
and markets of first and second Of
lenses. have been written.
inspection of hotels, particularly
the dining rooms, lunch rooms, res
| taurants and lunch carts has been
carried on as fully as the means ap-
propriated and the force of inspectors
employed permitted. Particular at
tention has been paid to the condi-
! ton of dishes and utensils used, and
the refrigerating facilities have been
noted.
| TN cooperation with the State
dairy inspector a certain phase of
restaurant inspection has been given
attention, consisting of determining
the quality of the milk served, by the
glass; to customers. Unfortunately
we have to report that in % cases in
the cities of Bangor, Portland, Lew
iston, Bath and Waterville skinned
milk was served. In settlement of
! these cases, all the proprietors were
fined $40. This is rather a vicious
practice and violation of the law
which should be punished when one
considers that many people for q
noon day or evening lunch purchase
a glass of milk, supposing it to con-
tain the necessary constituents of the
perfect product, and receive adulter-
ated milk, from which the fat has
been wholly or in part distracted.
Work of this character is now being
yioorouSly continued
at is very important that care
should be taken in handling bread,
and we have attempted to investigate
as fully as possible the methods used
in dispensing this product, not only
| in the bake shop but on delivery
teams and in stores. Bread, as it
comes from the oven, is in a steriliz-
ed condition. This is the last ster-
ilizing process that bread receives
before becoming consumed, as very
small amount of bread is subjected to
any heating or toasting operation. 1t
is obvious, therefore. that bread, in
order to be suitable for food. should
| be, at all times, carefully protected.
/ INSPECTORS have instructed drivers Of
! bakery teams to be particularly
clearly in their habits in the matter
of handling bread"