Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-06
Administering the Food and Drug Act
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

for the western district of Virginia en-
tered proceedings looking to the seizure
of the goods. for IL was discovered that
the cans contained not pure tuna nsn,
but a mixture of tuna fish. yellowtalI
and bonita. In such cases the action Is
brought against the article rather tnan
the owner. For example, this case Is
entitled United States vs. IL Gases OF
TUNA Fish" AS often happens, the
case was not defended when it came up
in court. so judgment was entered in
favor of the United States. the 18 cases
were declared forfeited. and the United
States marshal was ordered to destroy
them.
Dried figs are very frequently adul-
terated and, in the view OF the 1000
and drug administration. dangerously
so. There have been several recent
cases Figs. being of a pulpy consist
ency. lend themselves rather readily TO
imitation. In several recent cases the
Department of Agriculture in proSecut-
ing has described the figs seized as not
being figs at all. but limitations consist
ing of "a filthy decomposed or putrid
vegetable substance" In such a case,
1t will be noted. there is not only mis-
branding the commodity Of
fered was not actually figs at all-blIt
dangerous adulteration. The filthy,
deccmposed or putrid vegetable sub
stance" might very easily cause serious
illness.
Industries Police Themselves.
In a case involving chocolate coating
it was found that the coating consisted
largely of groundup cocoa shells.
fine of $500 was imposed in this case.
A canned corn manufacturer was fined
ST 900 because he labeled his product
Country Gentleman Corn a we'll
known variety of sweet corn, when, as
a matter of fact. the cans contained
field corn. This Is a typical case OF
simple misbranding. Field corn is not
deleterious to health. and there was no
claim of adulteration. Nevertheless, the
cans were misbranded. Another case
was that Of cottonseed cake, the label
of which declared that the product con-
tanned 43 per cent protein. Chemical
analysis showed that it did not.
Eggs and butter are both frequently
in court as violators of the pure food
and drug act, and prepared animal
feeds also run afoul OF the law often.
A false statement of the contents Of
package also comes under the law, and
many cases arise in which the charge
is that while the food may be unadul-
terated, the net weight stated on the
label is greater than the actual weight.
Olive oil manufacturers have difficulty
in resisting the temptation to adulterate
their products with the cheaper cot
tonseed oil. and there are many cases
of that sort.
Where the manufacturers do not
appear in defense of their products
penalty often goes no further than
seizure and destruction Of goods. In
cases where the food products seized
are pure, but merely misbranded as to
weight or precise ingredients, 1t Is the
practice to turn them over to charitable
institutions.
These strict enforcement measures
prevent large amount of impure food
reaching the public, but the greatest
effectiveness of the act arises from the
high standard it has caused manufac-
turers to set for themselves. They find
that it Is better business to make a
product superior to that of rivals rather
than try to palm off cheap, adulterated
commodity in the hope Of escaping
detection. Since the pure food and
drug act had the effect of apprising the
public that there were tricks in the
food trade as well as others and that
they were dangero'' tricks, the best
is demanded, and tt 'anufacturer and
merchant find the "ity of product
and good business yether.
Gamers are parti = careful. They
have national assc II yhich keeps
agents constantly on the rad visiting
the plants of members Of the asso-
citation. These examine sc:nples and
condemn impure or misbranded prod
ucts. For the good name of their MEM
bers as a whole the association will not
hesitate to bring an adulterated product
NJ anu OY1a If tiS v1aarnherC IN fha alton
ton of the authorities. Other trade
associations in the food and drug busi-
ness police their membership In the
same manner,