78 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



words, the preservative introduced by nature into fruit is of such 

 a small quantity that the practical food chemist can readily afford 

 to ignore its existence, and will only include and consider the added 

 amounts in his official reports or in recommendations upon the 

 advisability of starting suils. 



USE OF SULPHITES PROHIBITED. 



The use of sulphurous acid and the sodium salt, sodium sulphites 

 as preservatives of meats, canned and dried fruits and vegetables, 

 and also in beverages such as beer, etc., is absolutely prohibited 

 by the laws of Pennsylvania. The sulphites are most commonly 

 found in fresh or uncured meats, being employed in preserving and 

 brightening, or to restore their natural color. In this Common- 

 wealth, sulphites were most frequent in Hamburger steak, sausages, 

 etc., as the docket records show that a considerable number of 

 dealers were arrested and fined because of its unwarranted use. 

 A number of these defendants pleaded that the preservative had 

 been sold to them through false claims as to the virtues of the com- 

 position. The experiments of noted chemists, physicians and others 

 all show that such preservatives not only mask decomposition, but 

 that when administered even in small doses, tfiey produce marked 

 and unfavorable physiological effects. This in the main, was the 

 opinion of many experts who were called upon to testify in connec- 

 tion with prosecutions brought in behalf of the Commonwealth 

 through the Dairy and Food Commissioner. If the consumption 

 of such antiseptics by those in good health, through the medium of 

 food, is declared harmful, it is difficult to estimate the harm wrought 

 Avhen invalids are dosed, and the nutritive elements of their food 

 are correspondingly diminished. 



The most valuable asset of the human being is health and strength, 

 and this supreme blessing should not be trifled with or destroyed 

 by the debilitating influences consequent to the unwarrantable cus- 

 tom of adulterating or chemically preserving leading articles of 

 food. The people deserve and are perfectly entitled to protection 

 and the continued heritage of good health, so long as beneficent 

 laws can be made available. 



CONFECTIONERS DEMAND PURE GOODS. 



Although the National Confectioners' Association of the United 

 States and a number of State organizations, comprising in its mem- 

 bership the leading Avholesale candy manufacturing trade of the 

 country, have strongly and repeatedly declared for the absolute 

 prevention of the harmful adulteration of confectionery, it was 

 found that many objectionable goods were still upon our market, 

 although, in general, the confectionery sold is of a vastly higher 

 grade of purity than ever before. The use of terra alba, barytes, 

 talc, chrome yellow or other mineral substances or poisonous colors 

 or flavors or ingredients deleterious or detrimental to health is posi- 

 tively illegal. 



During the year just closed, numerous vague but alarming reports 

 of candy poisoning reached the Commissioner. In some instances 

 samples of candy accompanied such complaints. Upon careful ex- 



