REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 245 



This board has conducted a large number of hearings on cases of 

 alleged violations of the law and has considered all cases reported 

 by the Chief of the Bureau of Chemistry as being in violation of the 

 law. In addition the board has conducted an extensive correspond- 

 ence relating to the application of tlie law to various products and 

 the complex questions arising in the interpretation of the law. 



From time to time the board, with the approval of the Secretary 

 of Agriculture, issues decisions defining the attitude of the depart- 

 ment on questions relating to the application of the law to the food 

 and drug industries. These decisions serve as a guide to the officials 

 in charge of the enforcement of the law and acquaint the manufac- 

 turers, jobbers, and dealers with the attitude of the department in 

 these matters. 



SOME OF THE IMPORTANT DECISIONS. 



Among the important decisions so far issued, in addition to those 

 decisions merely explaining in greater detail and amplifying the 

 regulations, may be mentioned the following: 



(1) Prohibiting the use of coating of any kind on rice if the prod- 

 uct " be mixed, colored, powdered, coated, or stained in a manner 

 whereby damage or inferiority is concealed," and providing in any 

 case that rice when coated in any manner should be labeled with the 

 name of the extraneous substances used. (2) Restricting the use of 

 coloring matter in food products to certain harmless vegetable colors 

 which can only be used after having been tested and approved by the 

 department. (3) Prohibiting the use of all chemical preservatives 

 that are known to be harmful, and requiring that when any preserva- 

 tives are used the fact of their use must be stated on the label. (4) 

 Prohibiting the bleaching of flour with nitrogen peroxid. (5) Pro- 

 hibiting the use of shellac and other gums for coating chocolates and 

 other confections. (G) Restricting the sale of canned goods which 

 contain salts of tin derived from the solvent action of the contents of 

 the package upon the tin coating. (7) Prohibiting the shipment in 

 interstate commerce of green, immature citrus fruits which have been 

 artificially colored by holding in a warm, moist atmosphere for a 

 short period of time after removal from the tree. (8) Prohibiting 

 the use of saccharin and copper sulphate in foods. (9) Prohibiting 

 the importation of and interstate commerce in absinth. 



These are only a few illustrations showing the nature of the deci- 

 sions of the board. The decisions are published when issued and are 

 distributed to the trade or any interested parties. 



INSECTICIDE AND FUNGICIDE BOARD. 



Responding to a growing demand by agricultural interests and 

 manufacturers for Federal control of interstate commerce in insecti- 

 cides, Paris green, lead arsenates, and fungicides, Congress passed a 



