The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1938-11-10
Consumer Notes
Issued Weekly by Consumers
Counsel Division, A. A. A.
Washington, ID. c.
Toward Safety In Beauty

whose ingredients had caused blind
ness was seized and ordered off the
market few weeks ago, government
officials not only made consumer news;
they made consumer history in the
fight for legal protection against dam
gerous products.
Before the 1888 Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act was passed by Congress,
such seizures would not have been pos
sible. The old Food and Drugs Act
of 1906 made no provision for govern
ment protection against dangerous cos
metics.
Now, says the CON MERS'
GUIDE, publication of the Consumers
Counsel Division of the AAA, "cos-
metics sold in interstate commerce for
the first time come within the range
of Federal regulation"
"Most cosmetics are no doubt safe,"
writes the GUIDE, 'but many trag-
edies have brought home the necessity
for control of the traffic in question
able beauty aids. Eyelash beautifers
containing poisonous aniline dyes have
UllIuCu anu OCllcI W lSS GU d lluiIi-
ber of women. Superfluous hair re-
movers which utilized thallium acetate
have paralyzed women's legs, blinded
them, and loosened all their hair. Oint-
ments, hair tonics, freckle removers
and other cosmetics with mercury or
other poisonous ingredient have been
responsible, in scores of instances, for
impairment Of health and sometimes
permanent Disagreement. Under the
new law, the Food and Drug Admins
tration will for the first time be able
to bar poisonous cosmetics from in
terState commerce.
"Hair dyes containing poisonous coal
tar colors are exempt from regulation
if marked plainly with warning that
skin irritations may result from their
use by certain individuals, and that a
preliminary test should be made ac-
cording to directions. The warning
must also state that the dye is not for
eyelashes or eyebrows, since such use
might cause blindness. Cosmetics are
banned if injurious when used accord
ing to the label directions, or under
conditions Of use which are customary
or usual
"The law does not require that in
gradients of cosmetics be disclosed to
consumers Labels that fail to tell
the ingredients of the cosmetic fail to
protect women allergic to certain non
poisonous cosmetic ingredients. While
harmless to most women, such in
gradients may seriously irritate users
sensitive to them
"Lack of ingredient declaration for
cosmetics also leaves the price of cos
metics mystery, instead of providing
some basis for consumers to- compare
= cost and selling price in the prepara-
tion they are buying.
"Some of the Acts provisions, in
cluding the ban on dangerous cos
metics and the labelling Of hair dyes
containing coal tar colors, are already
in effect. The remainder become OPP
erative next June"
Picking a Winner In SweetpOtatOes
Buy sweetpotatoes that are smooth
well-shaped, firm, and of bright ap
for your money in this autumn fav
orite, advises the CONSUMERS
Guide, publication Of the Consumers
Counsel Division of the AAA. "Thos'
with odd shapes mean more waste, ant
SO do growth cracks.
"Looli out for decay" warns The
GUIDE. "One small spot can make
a whole potato uneatable. You car
spot one kind of decay by soft we
spots. Another kind is dry, shriv
eled, discolored, and sunken spot
usually at the end of the potato. Still
another shows in dark greenish spots
usually round but sometimes irregu
lar. Dampness is a danger signal il
sweetpotatoes, calling for inspection
on counts of possible bad handling
freezing, or decay
Remember, SWeetpotatoes divide W
into two classes, according to color
moisture, and sweetness. The kline
that come to the table dry and meal!
usually have a yellowish tan skin ano
very light flesh.
"The sweet moist neshed kind have
skins varying from whitish to reddish
color and flesh from light greenish
yellow to reddish or orange tint
Some call those 'yams,' though experts
deny them the title
X \
Blankets In The Wash