Evening star., 1959-12-23
FIemmingS Says
D.C.Area Milk
Isn't Tainted
By JOHN A. GILES
Star stan Writer

Dy 1OAlIN hs OALLO
star stan Writer
Secretary Flemming Of the
Health, Education and We'll
fare Department said today a
new special investigation shows
no residues of chemical insect
killers in milk, including that
produced for consumption here.
He sought to allay public
fear that such residues were
harmful.
mo cancer-producing sub
stances are involved" he as
serted. 1T should be empha-
sized that the amounts Of resi-
dues found in 1858 would not
constitute a health problem
unless continued"
The Government conducted
tests that year, and the prob
lem of residues has come to the
fore recently because of publi-
cation Of its results. The sur
vey showed some milk in Wash
ington and 10 other cities was
tainted with pesticides such as
.DDT and other agents contain
ing chlorine.
Residue Diminished
THE low residues in pesti-
cides has steadily diminished, +"
Mr.. Flemming reported. The
Federal Food and Drug Admin
istration is currently. conduct
ing a special investigation of
the situation to determine what
extent the problem may be
today.
ITO date, so samples have
been analyzed and no residues
have been found"
That program will continue,
he said, and If pesticide resi-
dues are found in additional
samples legal action will be
taken.
The same tests show no
traces of penicillin contamina-
ton which can produce allergic
reaction in humans.
Mr.. Flemming said penicillin
'is a greater problem because
a few people are extremely SEN
sitive to it,"
Industry IndOctrinated
A milk industry educational
program has been successful in
curbing the problems, Mr.. Flem-
ming added.
At another point, the Secre-
tary tried to bring about what
he termed a "clear understand
ing" Of his departments recent
action in the food and drug
field.
He said competent authori-
ties had told him that mo one
knows how much of a substance
that induces cancer when in
cluded in the diet Of animals
will induce the disease when
included in the diet Of man.
Under these circumstances
there is no question in our
minds but that substances that
induce cancer in animals when
included in their diet should
not be used in such q manner
as to leave residues in foods
that are consumed by man." he
said.
Animals Tested
The department, before TAX
ing actions to ban chemically
treated foods, has experimental
with animals.
Mr.. Flemming went on to
say the administration would
strongly support a change in
the law to give the Government
a freer hand in dealing with
the problem. This includes
elimination of the so-called
grandfather" clause which ex-
empts chemical substances
that were given clearances for
use prior to enactment Of the
law.
The 11a-hour conference
covered a wide variety OF
substances.
The Office Of Education's
sixth annual survey shows q
Nationwide shortage of 1872, 2,40O
public classroomS, a decline OF
$500. Mr.. Flemming said
However, the number Of class
rooms needed to accommodate
pupils enrolled in excess OF
normal class room capacity rose
by 600 and the number ot
pupils enrolled in excess o1
capacity stood at 1.883,000
compared with 1,850,000 in
1858.
The report stated that bone
issues floated by States fol
school construction dropped
from $1.3 billion in the frs
II months of 1858 to $1.2 billior
IN thn nnr,n nora lnla 1910 nnriAd