The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1934-03-20
Borough Women Hear
Z DR.. Edward Bailey
New Food and Drugs Bill Far From Adequate Now
State Chemist Tells Veters League

Naugatuck, March 20-The new
food and drugs bill now before the
senate does not represent a sudden
awakening on the part of officials
to the shortcomings of the present
law, DIR Edward A. Bailey, Connec-
tfcut agricultural extension bureau
chemist, said last night before
members of the League of Women
Voters in the children's library.
Attendance at the meeting was
small.
The present law went into effect
in 1906 and in the past 20 years
methods of merchandising and of
distributions have changed so
much and the power of advertis-
ing has increased so much that the
bill. framed % years ago is far
from adequate now, DR. Bailey
said.
But officials have realized for
some time the faults of the pres
emit act so the new bill is a result
of considerable planning and not of
sudden decision, he continued.
There have been only three
amendments made to the present
law since its inception and one of
these was sponsored by the can
ming industry to protect its own
interests.
Would Hit Advertising
The new bill was presented
about year ago and was called
senate bill 1914. In this there was
a provision to include advertising
Of food and drugs under the con-
troll of the law. Under the law en-
acted in 1906 and still in force,
there Is no jurisdiction over adver-
Using but only in statements on
the label or on a paper attached
to the product which is sent to the
consumer.
The speaker pointed out that the
advertising agency is not to be held
responsible for false advertising,
but the person causing the adver-
tisement to be used is considered
the responsible party. However If
an advertising company refuses tc
divulge the name of its client it
can be held responsible under this
bill, DIR Bailey declared.
There is a provision in the pro-
posed law which would cover cos
metics, he added. This business
has grown tremendously in recent
years until now there is business
of $250,OO0,O0O each year done in
cosmetics. In isolated states there
have been efforts made tc control
cosmetics sale in order to protect
the public but in New Hampshire
1t was defeated. However, DIR
Bailey said. New Hampshire was
not opposed to a national law ia
voring such control but was against
g. multiplicity of such laws in diff
ferent states.
Affects Mechanical Devices
Under the bill 1914 mechanical
applications would be covered in
the law. The present law covers
only foods and drugs. DR. Bailey
cited an example of a device to
increase the height of a person. 1T
is felt with such a device it might
be desirable to have medical SUI
pervision in it's use.
In this bill also there was g. pro-
vision empowering the secretary of
agriculture to set up 'to1erances'
ana promulgate definitions and
standards of foods and drugs. DR.
Railey explained "tolerances' in
response to a question from Mrs
Edna C. Fenniman, president of
the league, as a safe limit over
which the product might be not
good for health. He cited as an ex-
ample the spray residue that is on
fruits or vegetables. A safe limit
on such things as arsenic spray
would be set and this would be a
tolerance" He added it has not
yet been found possible to remove
all the arsenic from such things.