No. 7. Department oir AGRictJLT?uRii:. 79 



prices for food products, shown a marked increase, it is worthy of 

 note that the sale of white oleomargarine is greater today than it 

 has been at any time since the present oleomargarine act was passed. 

 There seems to be an impression on the part of a portion of the pub- 

 lic that the laws of the State are intended to prohibit the sale of oleo- 

 margarine, whereas the contrary is the fact. The law recognizes that 

 oleomargarine properly made and kept free from such appearance as 

 tends to confuse it with normal butter, is a wholesome and unobjec- 

 tionable food. The law does, however, prescribe for the protection 

 of the consumer certain requirements, — that the sale shall be prop- 

 erly licensed, that the article shall be kept free from resemblance to 

 yellow butter, and that the packages shall be properly stamped with 

 the true trade name of the product. It is the violation of these regu- 

 lative requirements that has led to the large number of prosecutions 

 for illegal sales of this product. The law is clear and not only makes 

 it an offence to sell oleomargarine as and for butter^ but also to make 

 and sell at all oleomargarine resembling yellow butter, no matter how 

 wholesome such product may be. 



MEAT PRODUCTS 



During 1910, there were examined 257 samples of meats and fish, 

 canned and fresh, including sausages. With respect to all but the lat- 

 ter meat product, the examination revealed no adulteration. About 

 17 samples of sausages and 3 of minced ham were, however, found 

 adulterated, in most instances by the -addition of starch and water 

 and in one case by the use of a sulphite preservative. The great dif- 

 ference in the price of starch and water on the one hand and of meat 

 1 11 ihe other, makes it extremely desirable, for the protection of the 

 buving public, that the needless use of starch and the unlimited addi- 

 tion of water should be stopped. 



LARD 



There were examined during the past year 20 samples and there 

 were five cases successfully terminated because of adulteration with 

 foreign fats. The operation of the lard act has resulted in a very 

 marked improvement of the trade in this commodity. 



EGGS 



Thirty-seven samples of eggs have been examined during the pres- 

 ent year. The list of cases terminated for violation of the egg act was 

 44, of which a considerable number represented samples examined dur- 

 ing 1909. Public sentiment has vigorously supported this law and 

 the position taken by the courts has been strongly conducive to a 

 careful regard for the law's provisions. It is recognized that, with 

 all reasonable care, under existing conditions of production, there 



