Graham guardian., 1921-07-22
PROTECT HONEST MILK

Of recent years, certain large
manufacturers Of food products
have buit enormous industries
by making imitation dairy pro-
ducts. The oleomargarine ques-
tion has been before the public
for many years and now we have
the question of filled" milk,
which is condensed skim milk,
with the addition of cocoanut oil.
1t has been estimated that last
year 1000, 900 pounds of foreign
oils were used in the manufac
ure of condensed milks, thereby
displacing that amount of butter
fat or the equivalent of at least
5000. 900 pounds of butter. This
may account in no small degree
for the low price Of butter just
now.
Dairymcn or the public in gen.
eral can have no quarrel with
the manufacturers of products
containing harmless oils, if they
are sold for what they are. The
fact remains, however, that they
are made to represent milk and
milk products and are often sold
to the consuming public dis
guised in such manner that they
are thought to be the genuine
article. There are many honor
able manufacturing firms which
do not attempt to disguise the
fact that their product is an i'm.
itation product and they labei
the package for what it is. If d
person wants to buy a product
containing cocoanut oil instead
of butter fat, he has a perfec
right to do so, but he has 4 right
to know what he is getting. The
dairy farmer has a right to OBJ
ject to imitation products being
marketed in a manner to resem-
BILE dairy products.
This matter was threshed out
recently in the Wisconsin legis
lature and d law was passed pre-
venting the manufacture OF filed
milk in that state. 1t was argued
by the opponents o. their bill
that filled milk provides a mar
ket for skim milk and that the
product is a wholesome food,
while the friends of the bill as
serted that while it provided a
market for a low valued skim
milk. it took away a market for
the more important constituent
of butter fat. 1t has been learned
that true milk and all dairy pro.
ducts containing butter fat are
protective foods. The vitamines
of butter fat, so essential for
growth and well being of chill,
dren. are not found in the vege,
table fats. While the fuel value
of cocoanut oil may be as great
as butter fat, it can not replace
butter fat in the diet. 1t is the
contention of those engaged in
the dairy industry that these
foreign oils should be sold ir
their pure state and not dis
guised as a dairy product.
The Supreme Court of the
United States has rendered ar
opinion on filled milk and a part
of their decision reads as follows
''The Constitution of the United
States does not secure anyone
the privilege of manufacturing
and selling an article offered ir
such a manner as to induce .pur,
chases to believe they are buy,
ing something which is in fact
different from that which is Of
fered for sale.
There is another point that is
worthy of serious thought. The
dairy industry represents a large
investment within our own coun
try. The dairyman is producing
one of the best of all foods anC
is building a permanent system
of agriculture. The dairy indus
try is beng revived slowly il
Arizona, but no one knows how
much it is being held back by
competition of imitation products
The dairy industry in Arizon;
is vastly more important to tht
State than that of foreign OF
products should be furnished {
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