The Washington herald., 1921-11-28
CANDY PLAYTHINGs COLLECT
DIRT AND MAKE CHILDREN I'LL.

CANDY PLAYTHINGs COLLECT
DIRT AND MAKE CHILDREN uIJ
Shoe lace licorice. animal crack
err, Christmas tree decorations cd
clear candy. and other form, cd
penny candles that children delight|
In and play with before esting.
were held up for disapproval by DR.
Charles H laval, dean Of the
Philadelphia College Of Phsrmacy
and Science. at the meeting OF the
American Public Health Associs
tion in New York.
Confectionery Of this sort IS
sometimes the cause Of chndren's
sickness. But many have suspect
ed that IL contains poisonous or ir-
ritating substances when the dirt
and the germs that the cand- ia
contaminated with while being
handled by dirty hands are 20
blame. he said.
DR.. laval urged that the Ameri-
can Public Health Association 20
on record as disapprovIng objec-
tionable forms OF candy playthings
and take up the matter with the
organized confectioners.
There has been a great improve
ment in the main. in recent years
in the character OF many OF tho
penny candles which are offered for
sale TO children" he declared
Most Of them are made Of whole
some materials and an increasing
number OF them are appearing in
wrapped individual pieces. thus
minimizing the danger OF contami-
nation from handling or exposure
before sale
"Competition between rival man
ufacturers, however. has lead 10
types Of candy which are made in
the form OF playthings The funda-
m ntal idea is not a new one. for
who does not remember Eugene
Fields sugar plum tree where the
gingerbread dog chased the choco-
late cat through the branches"
De laval said that the majority
OF the present Objectionable form.
are made or so-called licorice
candy. Most of them contain ut
tie or no licorice. the color being
due to a little lsmpblsck and the
flavor TO oif of snise. Most per-
sons, children and crown-ups. con-
fuse anise al licorice flavors. be-
cause they are usually associated.
so the manufacturer takes sdvsnt-
age OF the fact and makes a black
confection. flavors IL with snise.
and then often puts a warning note
on the box: These goods contain no
licoriec." which Is ignored by the
seller who supplies them when
licorice is asked for.
J The ~ shFs
called flexible licorice. which is now
made up into so many forms. are
sugar, glucose. starch or flour.
I flavor and lampblsck. with some
times a little licorice added TO give
warrant for the name" he said
These ingredients in themselves are
not indiEestible nor harmful. but II
is the manufacturers evident intent
to make something durable in the
way Of a confectionery novelty. 50
he combines his ingredients TO make
tough, flexible mass which can he
drawn. rolled or moulded into any
desired form and which is tough and
resistant. hard to chew. slow 10 dis
solve and represents the acme OF
indigestibility."
Some OF the Objectionable forms
in which this mass is then prepared
for sale are as follows: Long hol-
tubing. through which children suck
up water or beverages or through
which they blow their breath: long
flexible solid strips. called by tho
manufacturer shoe laces:" bead
like strings OF the material. called
neck laces." often worn by chill
dren before eating them. The latest
form that have seen. and one con-
cerning which definite complaints
were made to the PHILADELPHIA
Health Department. by parents who
stated that children had been made
i'll by them, is ''pocketbooks." These
resemble leather in texture and
are made in the form OF a small
n purse with a flap and q coin
compartment, in which are placed
several disc-like sugar waters rep
resenting money"