316 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



made poasible by a provision inserted in the current agricultural 

 appropriation act, giving authority for enforcing sanitation at these 

 establishments, but further legislation is needed. The new law 

 should embody the following provisions : 



(1) The name of the product should be " renovated butter." This 

 name would indicate exactly what the product is. The name " proc- 

 ess butter," allowed by the present law, is deceptive. 



(2) The manufacturer should be required to pack all renovated 

 butter in small packages, of say, 1, 2, and 3 pounds, and should be re- 

 quired to place a stamp upon each package in such manner as to seal 

 the package, which stamp should not be broken or removed except by 

 the consumer of the goods. A definition in the law covering the word 

 " consumer " would, of course, be necessary. At present a very large 

 percentage of renovated butter is sold as butter; and while properly 

 prepared renovated butter is a wholesome product, it should be sold 

 to the consumer for exactly what it is. The manufacturer's original 

 package w^ould be a great factor in preventing deception. 



(3) The Secretary of Agriculture should have authority to make 

 regulations regarding the sanitation of the plants, the kind of pack- 

 ing stock to be used, and the finished product. There should also 

 be authority to make sufficient inspections to see that these regulations 

 are complied with. 



(4) The Secretary of Agriculture or his authorized agents should 

 have authority to condemn and destroy for food purposes all packing 

 stock which is for any reason unfit to be used in a food product. He 

 should also have authority to require the pasteurization of all milk, 

 cream, and butter oil to be used in renovated butter. 



(5) All manufacturers' packages and shipping cases of renovated 

 butter should be labeled " Renovated butter " in letters of a given 

 size, and in addition the label should bear the words " U. S. require- 

 ments complied with," or some other statement of approval, and the 

 establishment number. All labels, marks, and brands should be ap- 

 proved by the Secretary of Agriculture under suitable regulations 

 issued by him. 



(6) All railroad and transportation companies should be pro- 

 hibited from accepting for interstate shipment any renovated butter 

 not properly labeled. 



(7) The Secretary of Agriculture should have authority to with- 

 draw inspection and prohibit the further use of the approval label 

 by plants failing to comply with the law and the regulations. 



(8) Suitable penalties should be provided for all violations. 



It seems an anomaly that oleomargarin should be prepared under 

 Government inspection, thus protecting the consumer against un- 

 wholesomeness and allowing the producer whatever commercial ad- 

 vantage there mav be in inspection, while no such benefits are afforded 

 in the case (^f butter. From the standpoint of the consumer there is 

 just ao much need for inspection of one as of the other, quite apart 

 Irom any question as to the merits of the two products. Each is a 

 wholesome and legitimate article of food when properly prepared 

 and when sold for exactly what it is. It is unfair, however, that 

 butter producers should have to meet the dishonest competition of 

 oleomargarin and renovated butter masquerading as creamery or 

 dairy butter. And even though the consumer may not be injured 



