No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. ?1 



thirds of the samples of catsup tested contained more than double the amount 

 of the preservative indicated by the label on the package. This development 

 was surprising to food authorities, generally, and as the consensus of modern 

 expert and medical testimony is unfavorable to the continued use of chemical 

 preservatives, even in the minimum quantity named under the rules of the 

 Federal government, it is safe to assume that when double the quantity is 

 introduced into the human system, the result cannot be otherwise than doubly 

 harmful. 



Knowing how rapidly the evil effects of drugs and chemicals will become 

 intensified by repeated usage, the Dairy and Food Commissioner directed that 

 prosecutions should be brought against dealers who sold such harmful and 

 falsely labeled food products. Under the rules of both the State and Federal 

 food authorities, the use of one-tenth of one per cent, of benzoate of soda was 

 but tentative, and subject to revocation at the end of the present year. 



Just what action the Federal government will take upon this palpable vio- 

 lation of both laws and rules remains to be seen. So far as Pennsylvania is 

 concerned, the question is answered fully and plainly by the prosecutions 

 already commenced and about to be instituted for similar offences. The Dairy 

 and Food Bureau has won a signal victory in the cases brought for using such 

 excessive quantities of benzoate of soda in catsups, scores of prosecutions 

 having been terminated upon the payment of the tine and costs by the de- 

 fendants. 



SULPHUROUS ACID IN FOOD HARMFUL TO HEALTH. 



That the work of the Pennsylvania Dairy and Food Bureau in making an 

 extended investigation into the use of sulphurous acid in food products, and 

 the consequent numerous arrests ordered, was entirely justifiable, is plainly- 

 evidenced by the following paragraph from a bulletin issued by Dr. Wiley, 

 Chief of the National Bureau of Chemistry, Washington, D. C: 



"The relations of sulphurous acid to health are perhaps of greater import- 

 ance than those of the preservatives already studied— namely, boron compounds 

 and salicylic acid and its salts. The reason of this is found in the fact that 

 the use of sulphurous acid at the present time is more general, and in certain 

 classes of food products, according to the statements of manufacturers, more 

 nearly approaches a necessity than is the case with boron or salicylic acid 

 compounds. 



"Sulphurous acid in some form is extensively employed in many technical 

 operations in the preparation of foods. This is especially true in the produc- 

 tion of wine, in the preparation of evaporated or dessicated fruits, and in the 

 manufacture of molasses. The problem presents itself under two aspects— 

 namely, the use of sulphurous acid or its compounds for technical purposes 

 in the preparation of foods and its application to the finished product as a 

 preservative." 



While the Pennsylvania laws may conform with the National food and drugs 

 act so far as practicable, it is freely admitted that the use of this preservative 

 is adverse to the public health and good, and especially if sulphurous acid 

 should be consumed for any period of time in connection with our regular daily 

 dietary. The initial work performed in Pennsylvania attracted attention 

 throughout the nation. 



ANALYTICAL RESEARCHES BY STATE CHEMISTS. 



During the past year the several chemists in the employ of the Dairy and 

 Food Bureau made extensive researches into numerous practical problems that 

 are constantly arising in connection with a vigorous enforcement of the pure 

 food laws. At the State laboratory, located at Harrisburg, Prof. Loomis made 

 an exhaustive investigation of the color question and the report on coal-tar 

 colors has since been printed in bulletin form by the National Department of 

 Agriculture. Among the various products that were the subject of special 

 inquiry, might be mentioned breakfast foods, candies, ice cream, glucose, 

 canned goods, catsups, etc., with the result that many valuable items of 

 information were made available for the use of the State and National au- 

 thorities. 



An important and far-reaching subject, meriting special attention, was the 

 common use of sulphurous acid and sulphites in various products, both for 

 bleaching and preservative purposes. Reference to this phase of the work is 

 made in another paragraph. That the National Department has taken up the 

 work begun in this State on the misuse of sulphurous acid, forms its own 

 commentary, and attests to the wisdom of the fight against its illegal use. 



There is no other state in the Union where more thorough and careful atten- 

 tion is devoted to the examination of the milk and cream supplies than in 

 Pennsylvania. The number of samples analyzed was far in excess of that of 

 any preceding year. The researches into dairy products were exceedingly 

 satisfactory, and a decreased number of prosecutions tells the story better 

 than ordinary words. i 



