STATE DAIRY ASSOCIATION. 457 



I wish to present some figures for your consideration which give an 

 approximate measurement of tiie amoimt lost, due to food adulterations. 

 There are, in round numbers, 2,500,000 people in Indiana. In statistics it 

 is customaiy to count one person in every five as a wage-eai-ner, and, 

 on the average, this will represent the truth. One-fifth of the population 

 of the state is 500,000. The average wage in Indiana, as secured from the 

 Bureau of Statistics, is eighty cents a day, and, therefore, there is earned 

 in Indiana daily as wages not less than $400,000. It is well known that 

 thi'ee-fourths of the average wage goes for food, and, therefore, three- 

 fourths of $400,000 is $300,000, the amount spent for food daily in Indiana. 

 If we assume that 5 per cent, of the food is adulterated (and I am veiy 

 sure this figure is very low, indeed,) then 5 per cent, of $300,000 is $15,000 

 a day lost by the people of Indiana in buying adulterations. The facts 

 are that probably 15 per cent, is nearer the true figure, and this would 

 make $45,000 a day as a loss which is endured. Why allow this foolish- 

 ness to go on any longer? Every man. woman and child in the State 

 should be interested and should appeal to the Legislature for relief. Of 

 course, it would not be possible with the most vigorous work and con- 

 stant prosecutions to stop all adulterations, but it could be at least 

 changed, and in all probability very materially reduced. 



A recent adulteration has come to my knowledge, which is called 

 "Kremo." "Kremo" is a substance advertised by a Chicago firm for 

 the purpose of stretching cream and milk. Their circular is a long one, 

 and therefore I will only read a few extracts. It says: 



"Kremo is dry cream, gives a body to thin cream or milk; will permit 

 of the mixing of cream with nailk in such a way that it can not be de- 

 tected; it produces qualities of richness, flavor and body. Kremo is the 

 result of years of expei-imenting. It is now used throughout Europe, and 

 is rapidly being adopted in the United States. It is guaranteed harmless, 

 and also to pass all pure food laws anywhere." 



It is plain from the very face of the circular that a fraud is contem- 

 plated. An examination of the sample of stuff they sent out labeled 

 "Kremo" proves it to be powdered gelatine. The circular offers to sell 

 this "Kremo" (powdered gelatine), packed in one, five and ten-pound tins 

 at $1.25 per pound. In commerce the article is worth not to exceed sixty 

 cents. The directions given in the circular are simply to dissolve the 

 "Kremo" (one ounce) in a pint of water, being sure to make an even and 

 perfect solution. This being added to the cream will, of course, give thick- 

 ness and body after thorough mixing with the cream without any very 

 severe agitation. Milk may be added, one-half as much milk to be used 

 as there is cream. I have found several samples of cream upon the mair- 

 ket in Indiana which contain gelatine, and very possibly the trick was 

 learned from the Chicago rascals. Process butter may be found in almost 

 every city and town in Indiana. I calculate that an amount of water 

 is sold each day in Indiana in butter for which $150 is paid. The encour- 



