Evening star., 1945-11-05
Young Asks Report
by Health Department
On Pie Company

While District Commissioner John
Russell Young today called on the
District Health Department for a
report on why it could not obtain
evidence to make a case against the
Connecticut Pie Co., 3100 block of o
street NV, Health Officer George
G. Ruhland explained to newspaper
men that his departments work is
curtailed by lack of personnel.
The pie firm is now under a Dis
trict Court temporary restraining
order granted at the request of the
Federal Government under provi-
sions of the Pure Food, Drug and
Cosmetics Act.
DR.. Rutland said the epidemi-
illogical bureau of his department
had traced the source of the COM
plant against the pie company to
the illness from food poisoning of
a number of persons at Suburban
was allegedly caused by person
with a sore hand who had been
employed by the bakery. He was
ordered removed from the job.
Company Is Closed.
The companys shop is closed
as result of the temporary
order granted by Justice Henry A.
Schweinhaut, who set November 13
for a hearing on a motion for a
temporary injunction. The suit was
filed by United States Attorney Ed
ward M, Curran,
The demand by Commissioner
Young for a report was routed
through the Office of Commissioner
Guy Mason, who is in direct charge
OF the Health Department, but is
now on leave. There was no indi-
cation on when report could be
furnished.
DR.. Rutland told newspapermen
there are limits on the Health De-
partment's activities because it is
understaffed and has been denied
the personnel it asked for. The
department had to resort to an
educational program he said, which
was designed to appeal to the pock-
etbook interests of the food manu-
facturelS" if they could not grasp
the ethical and moral interests" in
volved.
The health officer admitted there
were serious shortcomings, but de-
clared the bake shop itself was
clean"
On the other hand, DR. R. R. Ash
worth, chief of the Bureau of Food
Inspection of the Health Depart
ment, told the press that investiga-
tlon showed the worker had cut his
thumb Saturday-the day after the
pies had been made Inspectors had
examined the workers for throat
cultures, he said.
Tells of Laboratory Tests.
DR.. James G. Cumming. chief of
the Bureau of Preventable Diseases
told the press that the laboratory
examination of a small specimen
OF one batch of material from the
pie factory failed to reveal any def
mite evidence of food poison. He
said the findings showed a rather
high bacterial count, with a few
but not enough to re-
suit in poisoning. g
The BACTERIA, however, would in
crease in pies kept at room tenlper-a
ature and the pies had not been re-
frlgerated as they should have
been, he said.
Asked to comment on the situa-
ton, Mendel Behrend, an official of
the pie company. said he had mo
knowledge" of any employe with
an injury or cut hand.
IF we found a man not suitable
to work here" he added, "of course
we would not employ him or keep
him on the job, because we would
not want to endanger the health
of the public"
Mr.. Behrend said he could make
no estimate as to when the firm
might resume its baking but said
it was making every effort to COM
ply with. all sanitary requirements.