6* ANNUAL REPORT. OF TUB Off. Doc. 



foniuT ollicials made the iiiiiilcd concessions these ''rulinj^s'' were 

 intended to cover, it was only too frequently the case that some man- 

 ufacturers adopted them as a subterfuge for perpetrating still 

 greater impositicuis or wrongs upon the public, thereby embarrass- 

 ing the pure food olliciais. While pu/.zling questions will arise at 

 more or less fi-equent intervals, the rule of entire impartiality and 

 fairness, combined with a proper degree of conservatism, has proven 

 satisfactory, 



SALE OF LARD IN PENNSYLVANIA. 



The legitimate product of the fat of the hog — pure lard — has had 

 an increased sale in Pennsylvania during the past year, which is due 

 (u a strict enforcement of the law regulating the manufacture and 

 sale of "compound lard." With a comparatively unrestricted sale 

 of "hogless lards" and cotton-seed substitutes for the fat of swine, 

 it was an easy matter to deceive the ordinarj' customer. While 

 "compound lard," under its true name, can be sold legitimately, it 

 is but right and proper that the purchaser be made acquainted with 

 the nature of his purchase. The sale of cheap and inferior substi- 

 tutes at full lard prices is an imposition that cannot be tolerated. 

 The law clearly defines certain regulations, and each wholesale or 

 retail parcel, no matter whether large or small, containing "com- 

 pound lard," must be properly and legibly branded, so as to notify 

 the purchaser of its true cliaracter. It is possible that a new and 

 more rigid Act relating to lard will be introduced during the com- 

 ing legislative session, as the present law is in some respects defi- 

 cient, 



COAL-TAR COLORS NOT FAVORED. 



The extensive use of coal-tar colors in articles of food and drink 

 has resulted in numerous prosecutions Some manufacturers use 

 coal-tar dyes mainly because of their greater permanency and bril- 

 liancy and lower cost. Such coloring materials shall receive further 

 attention in other parts of this report. 



ADULTERATED CONFECTIONERY. 



One of the special subjects of inquiry during 1904 was confec- 

 tionery. The sale of poisonous candy or confectionery is a plain 

 violation of the pure food laws of the State, The admixture of terra 

 alba, barytes, talc or other earthy or mineral substances, or the 

 use of any poisonous colors, flavors or extracts is contrary to the 

 statutes, aud subjects the manufacturer or vendor, to prosecution. 

 The importance of the purity of candy cannot be overestimated, it 

 being a commodity that is used extensively by^ both children and 

 adults. Starch and flour are common adulterants, and although rec- 

 ognized as impurities and foreign to pure candy, cannot be regarded 

 as harmful impurities. 



The investigations made by this Bureau prove that coal-tar color- 

 ing has largely supplanted the vegetable and animal colors formerly 

 used in confectionery. Paraffine, saccharin, earthy materials and in- 

 jurious coloring matter constitute a large share of the adulterants 

 used in the manufacture of candy, which are combined with cane 

 sugar and commercial glucose, Germany, France, Austria an^ other 



