lusk: food economics 395 



to replace that destroyed in the body or the machinery of the 

 cells will wear out and death from lack of protein will ensue. 



Different proteins have different values for this purpose. 

 Those of meat, fish, eggs, and milk will replace body protein 

 part for part. Such proteins may be classified as proteins of 

 Grade A. Gelatine has practically no power to replace body 

 protein and should be classified as protein of Grade D. Wheat 

 contains a mixture of proteins of Grades A and D in which those 

 of Grade A predominate, so that wheat may be classified as 

 containing protein of Grade B, whereas from analogous reason- 

 ing corn may be said to contain protein of Grade C. 



An ordinary dietary with a liberal allowance of protein con- 

 tains 15 per cent of its calories in that form. A can containing 

 15 per cent of its calories in protein should have a star placed 

 with the letter determinative of the grade of protein. For 

 example the label on a can of corn should read, "This can con- 

 tains x calories of which y per cent are in protein of Grade C." 

 A further desirable statement would be as to whether the food- 

 stuff sold contained the natural mineral constituents from the 

 organic source from which it was derived. 



I have elsewhere emphasized the desirability that the govern- 

 ment should give this information with regard to all foodstuffs 

 sold in packages. The determination of the heat of combustion 

 of a dried sample of food takes fifteen minutes. Probably 

 three hours would suffice to make a complete analysis by a 

 government expert. The manufacturer should send his sample 

 can to the Bureau of Chemistry at Washington, declaring that 

 to be his standard and requesting information regarding his 

 label. He should pay for this analysis as a patentee pays for 

 his patent. If at any time the government should find the 

 manufacturer selling on the market a material of different 

 character than the standard deposited with the government, the 

 manufacturer should be heavily fined. 



It is not possible to consider the details of the great amount 

 of extremely valuable work accomplished by the scientific 

 departments of the Washington Government and in the individual 



