78 ANNUAL, REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



any kind. In the formulation of the present pure food law, commonly known 

 as the "Tustin Act," their co-operation was both helpful and acceptable. They 

 are unalterably opposed to such harmful ingredients, poisonous colors, etc., 

 and in more than one instance called attention to some of the more flagrant 

 short-comings. Of course, they also recognize the fact that it is somewhat 

 difficult to establish any fixed standard for certain goods, but it is to their 

 credit that they are continually aiming for a higher standard. 



LEGAL STATUS OF GLUCOSE IN PENNSYLVANIA. 



The agitation concerning the subject of glucose containing sulphites attracted 

 widespread attention not only in Pennsylvania but throughout the United 

 States. Numerous correspondents made inquiry as to the legality of this pro- 

 duct in the Pennsylvania market, and its status can be best defined by the 

 explanation that when pure and free from foreign and deleterious substances, 

 it can be regarded as a legal commodity. The word "sugar" according to a 

 standard definition, is a "sweet crystalline compound derived chiefly from the 

 juice of the sugar-cane and sugar-beet." This definition identifies sugar as 

 the substance known to chemists under the name of cane-sugar or sucrose. 



The subject of inquiry, namely, commercial glucose, is an entirely different 

 product, and not even "grape-sugar," as many advertisements of some manu- 

 facturers strongly intimated in order to attract trade and advance their pe- 

 cuniary interests. Glucose is a product made by the action of acids on starch, 

 and as analysis shows, it is of somewhat indefinite composition, always con- 

 taining in addition to reducing sugars, dextrine, water, traces of starch, etc. 

 The average tradesman and consumer understands well enough what is meant 

 by sugar, and the substitution of commercial glucose for it is not tolerated 

 nor warranted by law. 



One of the features of the enforcement of the pure food laws of Pennsylvania 

 is the gratifying fact that the reputable and leading manufacturers of jellies 

 and jams who are now doing business in Pennsylvania, will use only cane- 

 sugar for sweetening and preserving. 



As an outgrowth of the glucose crusade, there has been created a large and 

 substantial demand for pure syrups, and to-day, the old and uncertain mix- 

 tures sold as "pure cane syrups," although largely, if not entirely, composed 

 of glucose, are rarely found in stores. 



IMPROVED QUALITY OF FLAVORING EXTRACTS. 



The ingenuity of flavoring extract manufacturers in the years when pure 

 food laws were in their infancy surpassed comprehension. While it required 

 skill and pure materials to produce good goods, it is probable that there was 

 more time and ingenuity exercised in the production of adulterated and in- 

 ferior goods than in the making of genuine and legitimate flavoring extracts. 



The importance of the subject required some drastic legal action on the part 

 of the pure food authorities, but the effort was compensated by excellent 

 results. To-day, the two best known flavoring extracts sold in our market 

 are vanilla and lemon, and it is safe to assert that but few^ if any, of the old 

 imitations are now to be found on sale, excepting under their proper name and 

 designation. The examinations made indicate that there is a more general 

 compliance with the pure food law by extract manufacturers, and that the 

 inducements for an increase of profits by substitution and adulteration are 

 largely diminished through the vigorous enforcement of the law. 



As a solvent, wood alcohol was often use'l in the manufacture of extracts, 

 its use being the more reprehensible from the fact that scientific knowledge 

 had made it possible to eliminate the disagreeable woody odor that charac- 

 terizes it. This alcohol is a deadly poison when used in excessive quantities, 

 and hence the prompt and vigorous action of the food authorities was 

 imperative. 



A careful examination of the analytical reports published in the Monthly 

 Bulletin will show the marked decr'ease in the adulteration of flavoring ex- 

 tracts, and that artificial and adulterated goods do not have the standing of 

 former years, when the public were less exacting and lacking the informa- 

 tion that now enables them to discern pure goods and to buy wisely. 



CHEMICALLY PRESERVED COD-FISH. 



The modern system of "quick-curing" resulted in the prosecution of a large 

 number of retail dealers who sold cod-fish, because of the fact that such fish, 

 upon analysis, were found to contain large amounts of illegal chemical pre- 

 servatives. Under the so-called "quick-curing" plan, salting and smoking had 

 largely disappeared, as the fish were most frequently cured in brine, and 

 preserved with the help of borax and other forbidden chemicals. That the 

 product appears more attractive to the eye and more palatable may be 

 acknowledged, but there is no question as to the harmfulness of these prac- 

 tices. It is therefore worthy of mention that the more recent analyses of 



