82 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



As qo deleterious adulterations were discovered by chemical ex 

 animations, and the housewife still approves of their use, the Dairy 

 and Food Commissioner has no further comments to make. The 

 industry has assumed gigantic proportions, and the public demand 

 is constantly increasing- as the number and variety of new brands 

 amply proves. 



LABELLING ADULTERATED FOOD PRODUCTS. 



Apropos to the interesting subject of the labelling of adulterated, 

 imitation and colored and chemically preserved foods, it is right 

 and proper to explain that no label, no matter how complete in its 

 details, would exonerate the manufacturer or seller from legal re- 

 sponsibility, should an article upon analysis be found illegal. Scores 

 of correspondents have taken the position that if a label on a pack- 

 age told the truth, there could not be any valid foundation for a 

 suit. In numerous cases, the labelling on packages read as follows: 

 "Artificial coloring and antiseptic used." As the published reports 

 of terminated suits will show, the courts invariably imposed the 

 usual fine and costs. The labelling of imitation jellies and jams 

 also reveals the ingenuity of a certain class of manufacturers who 

 cater to the cheapest trade. So-called plum, strawberry, grape and 

 other fruit jellies very often do not contain a particle of fruit ex- 

 cepting apple juice which forms the base of the compound. This 

 is flavored with some synthetical compound and preserved with as 

 much as UU per cent, corn syrup. Very often a small, obscure 

 label will read: "Colored; preserved with benzoic acid," or "Antisep- 

 tic is used, also small amount of coloring." By a queer method of 

 deduction, the same illegal goods may occasionally be found to bear 

 the additional assurance, "We guarantee the purity of the contents 

 of this package." The fact that the label may even go as far as 

 to state that "these goods were made and branded to conform to 

 the Pure Food Laws of Pennsylvania," does not exonerate the 

 seller from responsibility. Goods bearing compound labels should 

 be carefully scrutinized by dealers, and if in doubt, only bought and 

 sold under a proper guarantee from the manufacturer or jobber. 

 The Pennsylvania laws do not approve of fraud or imposition under 

 any conditions. 



USE OF FICTITIOUS FIRM NAMES. 



One of the developments incident to enforcing the pure food laws, 

 is the revelation of the fact that a law should be enacted which 

 would make it prohibitory to sell any food product which does not 

 bear the correct name and address of the manufacturer, or which 

 is sold under a fictitious name and address. In a few instances such 

 mislabeled goods came to the attention of the officials of Pennsyl 

 vania, while it is said that in other states where the laws are 

 less rigidly enforced, the practice is a more common and growing 

 one. It is needless to add that such brands are almost invariably 

 found to be adulterated or illegal, and if the local merchant is fined 

 for their sale, he usually experiences considerable trouble before 

 he can recover the fines, unless the goods were purchased direct from 

 the home jobber or wholesaler under a guarantee. Eeliable firms 

 and the packers of pure goods are never ashamed to have their name 

 and address appear upon the goods sold by them. 



