No. 6. DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 91 



samples examined very clearly shows the need for the egg act and 

 for its continned vigorous enforcement, nevertheless the general con- 

 dition of the egg trade in the State as a whole is not fairly repre- 

 sented b}' the proportions exhibited in the foregoing figures. As a 

 matter of fact, the systematic trade in eggs rejected by commission 

 men after the process of candling, is confined almost exclusively to 

 the two cities of the first class, more especially Philadelphia. 



MINCE MEAT 



There were examined during the year 48 samples of products sold 

 under this name. Tlie number of cases instituted were 9, of which 

 more than half were due to the presence of benzoic acid, or a com- 

 pound thereof, used for preserving purposc^s. In one case, no meat 

 at all was found. 



FRUIT AND VEGETABI.E PRODUCTS 



CANNED FRUITS AND VEGETABLES 



There were examined during the year 94 samples of canned fruits 

 and vegetables, pickles, etc. During the same period 14 cases were 

 terminated relating to this class of products. The major portion 

 of these cases refer to so-called Maraschino cherries, and in all in- 

 stances because of the use of a chemical preservative, with or with- 

 out the use of a deceptive dye. The number of cases relating to this 

 product corresponds to 20 per cent, of the total number. One case 

 of mushrooms, out of 14, contained sulphur dioxide, and one case 

 of French peas contained compounds of copper. The general condi- 

 tion of the remaining materials belonging to the class of canned 

 fruits and vegetables was excellent. 



CATSUPS, ETC. 



Two hundred and eighty-nine samples of catsups, salad oils, salad 

 dressings, sauces, etc., were analyzed during the year. There were 

 46 cases terminated during the same period, relating to materials 

 of this class. Of the samples examined, 257 were sold as catsup or 

 tomato catsup, and one containing as a very important part of its 

 solids, apple pulp, was sold under the curious name of Pomona Cat- 

 sup. Of the cases terminated, -13 were related to catsups. In 15 of 

 these cases, the charge was that they contained an amount of benzoic 

 acid in excess of the legal limit of toleration, in other words, cor- 

 responding to more than one- tenth of one per cent, of benzoate of 

 soda, while in 4 cases the preparations were found to have been manu- 

 factured, in whole or in part, from filthy or decomposed vegetable 

 products unfit for human consum])tion. When it is considered that 

 a very notable proportion of the larger catsup manufacturers of the 

 country are noAV placing upon the market catsup made without the 

 use of a chemical preservative, the condition of affairs revealed by 

 the examinations just made, together with those of recent year?. 



