48 ANNUAL REPORT OP THE Off. Doc. 



KEPORT OF THE DAIRY AND FOOD BUREAU 



Harrisburg, Pa., December 31, 1915. 



Hon. Chas. E. Patton, Secretary of Agriculture: 



Dear Sir: I have the honor to submit herewith a report of the 

 Dairy and Food Bureau of the Department of Agriculture, for the 

 year ending December 31, 1915. It covers the operations for the 

 year and contains some details that may be useful for public in- 

 formation. 



THE PENNSYLVANIA FOOD LAWS 



In the paragraphs introductory to my preliminary report for the 

 year 1914, I presented a list of the fifteen laws, then in force, for 

 the enforcement of which this Bureau was held responsible. These 

 laws were of three classes: 



First. A General Food Law providing against the adulteration 

 and misbranding of foods in general. 



Second. Special food laws making particular provisions covering 

 the sale of milk, cream, cheese, renovated butter, oleomargarine, ice 

 cream, fresh meat, poultry, game and fish, lard, sausage, fresh eggs, 

 vinegar, fruit syrups and non-alcoholic drinks. 



Third. A Cold Storage Law covering the operations of cold stor- 

 age warehouses, the storage of certain foods therein, and the sale of 

 these foods after such storage. 



The Legislature of 1915 has but slightly modified the body of laws 

 above referred to. The Act of June 8, 1911 established a minimum 

 standard of milk of three and one-fourth per cent butter-fat and 

 twelve per cent, of milk solids, but an amendment dated June 2, 1915, 

 has further provided that, in cases where the butter-fat content of 

 milk is not below three per centum and the milk is otherwise pure 

 and wholesome, the Dairy and Food Commissioner shall not institute 

 legal proceedings against the producer or vendor of the milk in ques- 

 tion if said producer or vendor shall furnish a satisfactory affidavit 

 that nothing has been added to or taken from said milk. 



The Act dated May 5, 1915, regulating the sale of chicory mixed 

 with coffee has been added to the list of the laws with whose enforce- 

 ment this Bureau is charged. 



