Evening star., 1932-11-27
U. S. Grading to Aid
Canning Industry

THE growth of the system of afixing definite
Government standards on canned goods
gives promise that before long a housewife can
inspect the label on the can Of goods she is
about to purchase and know at once. regardless
of the brand, whether she is obtaining first
second or other class of goods.
-Four grades are to be specified by the Federal
inspectors grade A, which is fancy; grade B.
which is extra standard choice; grade c,
which is standard or the fourth grade which
is subStandard
Already official grades have been set up on
canned corn, canned peas and canned tomatoes.
Tentative grades have been set up on beetS,
lima beans, pumpkin, sauer kraut, snap beans.
spinach succotash. tomato pup and grape fruit.
Investigation looking to the adoption of grades
on apple sauce. asparagus, carrots, mushrooms,
okra pimentoes, plums and sweet potatoes Is
also underway.
The grading system of the Federal Govern
ment is extending all the way from the re-
taller back to the farmer, as the retailer de-
mandS the Government rating when possible,
and the wholesaler is forced thereby to de-
mand of the Gamer that his product meet the
Government specifications. The canner, in
turn pays the farmer a premium for better
grade vegetables at the outset, for they aid
him In canning a better product.
AS an example of the grading by the Federal
Government, tomatoes make an excellent il
Mstration. The grades based on certain
definite standards fer color, taste, consistency,
drained weight and other such tests. Grade
A tomatoes, for instance, largely whole or
nearly whole tomatoes of a uniformly good red
color, free from pieces of skin, cores. blemishes
and other defects, possess the typical flavor of
ripe tomatoes and score at least 80 points.
Grade B, naturally, is not so strict ID its re-
quirementS and permits score varying from
rs per cent to 80 per cent. Grade c permits
score down to 60 and naturally does not require
so good color and flavor. The below standard
grade requires only that the product be health
full and labeled in sufficiently large type to
guarantee that the purchaser know what she
is buying
All containers must be sound. free from rust,
large dents and bulging ends. AL must be filed
to within 90 per cent of the capacity of the
can.
As the practice spreads of using the Federal
inspection, the housewife, unable to purchase
her favorite brand of any particular vegetable
will be able to select from brands she has not
used. which will be on a par with her IA
Vorite by buying according to the Federal
grade.
This system would protect any purchaser of
canned food from unscrupulouS manufacturers
dealers who might seek to foiSt off poor
quality goods of good quality. The question
of the value of any particular brand, which
might be put on sale at reduced prices, would
also be easily answered. A grade A product. for
instance. selling at grade price would be a
clearly indicated value.
The permission to pack substandard goods,
when properly labeled, also would permit those
of small means to buy with the assurance that
while their purchase might not be of the best
quality or flavor at least it would be healthful,
and as such could be safely purchased.