Henderson daily dispatch., 1939-07-06
Food, Drug,
Cosmetics
Act Ignored
Daily Dispatch Bureau.
In the Sir :V-aiIer Hotel.

Raleigh, July 6-Ncrth Carolinas
1889 version of its pure food, drug
cosmetics law is a distinct step for
ward in giving protection to the con-
sumer: but is not widely understood
by the public and is, therefore, not
accomplishing as much as it might II
there were a general knowledge OF
it's provisions, William A. Queen, as
sociate chemist for the North Caro-
lima Department of Agriculture, said
today.
Mr.. Queen explained that the law
provides for additional protection not
given by the Federal statute and ad-
ded that it is a vast improvement
over the old State act which has
scarcely been amended in the past
thirty years.
In general, he pointed out, it pro-
vides for detention and embargo Of
adulterated and misbranded foods,
drugs and cosmetics with the pro-
vilege of destroying such articles as
may be imminently dangerous to
health.
1t is so far-reaching as to include
all medical devices or appliances as
we'll as drugs and the like, Queen
| l.
| of a pair of crutcheS falsely branded
or advertised or dangerously made
would be subject to the penal pro-
visions of the law.
Queen cited almost score of re-
Spects in which the new law differs
from and is an improvement on the
old statute.
l. False advertising of food, drugs,
devices and cosmetics is brought un-
der regulation.
2. The adulteration and misbrand-
ing of cosmetics is prohibited.
3. Therapeutic devices are brought
under control.
4. Drugs intended for diagnosing
illness or for remedying underweight
or overweight, or otherwise affect
ing bodily structure or function are
subjected to regulation.
5. Reasonable sanitation is requir-
ed in production of food, drugs and
cosmetics.
6. Foods dangerous because of ma
| turally contained pOisOnS rather than
added poisons are brought under re-
gulation. The addition Of poison to
| foods is prohibited except where such
addition is necessary or cannot be
avoided; and in such cases toler-
ances are provided limiting the
amount.
7. Where the other provisions of
the measure are not effective to con-
troll danger arising from bacterial
contamination of food, temporary Ii
cense restrictions3can be imposed I'M
til the difficulty is corrected.
8. Definitions and standards of
identity are provided under which
the integrity of food products can be
effectively maintained.
g. Informative labelling of foods as
to quality and composition is requir-
ed. Special emphasis is placed on the
labelling of infants foods.
TO- The distinctive name provision
OF the present law under which many
debaSed and cheapened foods have
escaped control is eliminated
IL. The fraud joker, under which
proceedings could be brought against
falsely labeled patent medicines on
ly upon evidence that the manufac-
t5;,ss tHred knows I49 his label was false, is
IL. Control is set up for drugs dan
gerous to health when taken in dos
age and with frequency prescribed
by the manufacturer.
13. Habit-forming drugs must be
labeled with warnings that they are,
in fact, habit-forming
IA. Potent drugs liable to be mis-
used must bear warnings.
Is. Special safeguards are set up
for packaging and labelling deter
iorating drugs.
16. Antiseptics must possess germ
killing qualities.
II. Authority is provided for in
spection of factories making inter-
state shipments, without which the
law could not be enforced.
49, Injunction proceedings are au-
thorized against repeat offenders.
49, These and other less important
provisions are contained in the bill
to make the law effective for con-
sumner protection without imposing
unnecessary burdens on industry.