BUKEAU OF CHEMISTRY. 421 



Citrus fruits. — The investigation concerning the shipment of im- 

 mature citrus fruits, begun several years ago, was again taken up at 

 the proper season, and the collection of samples and of necessary in- 

 formation was continued over such a length of time as to enable the 

 bureau to establish beyond a doubt that the interstate traffic in unripe 

 fruit of this character, which was subsequently treated to increase tne 

 color in the peel in order to simulate full development and mature 

 fruit, was an illegal practice. The conclusion of this investigation 

 was followed by the issuance of Food Inspection Decision 133, giving 

 the opinion of the department in this matter, especially as it relates 

 to oranges. 



Milk inspection.- — The intrusion of other work operated against 

 the massing of a large force of inspectors at any one point, such as 

 has been customary in conducting milk campaigns in the past, but 

 this did not prevent a scrutiny of the milk products furnished to a 

 number of cities throughout the country. The collection of samples 

 in these instances was undertaken by a fewer number of inspectors 

 who were favorably situated at locations affording strategic advan- 

 tages. It is worthy of note that these collections showed that the 

 adulteration of such valuable food substances as milk and cream is 

 less prevalent than formerly. 



New Investigations. 



When the examination of a great many samples of a given line of 



f>roducts indicates that there are but few instances of violations, 

 urther collection is discontinued and attention is given to a new 

 class of material. This policy caused the abandonment of some of 

 the former subjects of investigation and the substitution in their stead 

 of other inquiries, several of which are especially noteworthy. Simul- 

 taneous investigation was made during the fall of 1910, in a number 

 of localities, of the tomato-canning industry. This inquiry developed 

 that it had been a practice for factories to utilize tomato refuse in 

 preparing soup stocks and pastes, and as this material was permitted 

 to remain unprocessed for considerable lengths of time, under con- 

 ditions which were often the reverse of sanitary, it was plain that the 

 finished products could not be free from evidences of spoilage and 

 bacterial contamination. As the analyses substantiated and con- 

 firmed the findings of the inspectors relative to the filthy condition 

 of such articles, prompt steps were taken to suppress traffic in such 

 goods, and a great many seizure actions were submitted by the de- 

 partment to the Department of Justice for appropriate proceeding. 



The investigation of the presence of arsenic in food materials had 

 Drogressed far enough to indicate that this deleterious substance was 

 ound only too frequently, and a great many official samples have 

 3een collected of baldng powders and baking-powder materials, colors, 

 and shellac and other coating materials used in the manufacture of 

 confectionery. A large number of these contained arsenic in ])rohibited 

 amounts and led to the institution of many libel recommendations. 

 The collection of specimens of cheap confectionery during the holiday 

 seasons, such as Christmas and Easter, revealed the too prevalent use 

 of coloring agents and filling materials of questionable value. 



Tlie former practice of improperly branding as "Mocha" or "Java" 

 coffees groNvn elsewhere than in Arabia or the Dutch East Indies has 



