82 ANNUAL. REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



of the lard sold in Pennsylvania will be made more or less regularly, 

 and it is therefore of special importance that the trade should exer- 

 cise prudence in buying and selling the article to avoid legal com- 

 plications. 



THE VINEGAR LAW OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



The much discussed and imperfectly understood vinegar law of 

 Pennsylvania caused annoj-ance and discomfiture in many directions. 

 That part of the Act relating to distilled vinegar, prescribing a 

 standard of acetic acid, etc., was confused with that portion re- 

 ferring to fruit or cider vinegar. As a result, fruit-growers and 

 farmers wrote letters to this Division demanding information, and 

 asserting that merchants would not buy their product, except under 

 a guarantee as to acidity and solids, which they could not give, hav- 

 ing no means of ascertaining same. The plain facts as to the sale 

 of fruit vinegar demand no hardship on the part of the producer. 

 If the vinegar is the product of the pure fruit juice, and if no water 

 or chemical substances were added or introduced, the farmer and 

 merchant can sell such vinegar with entire freedom and without 

 fear of prosecution. This information should be disseminated in 

 every fruit growing section of the State, as it concerns the financial 

 interests of all those who may be interested in the manufacture and 

 sale of pure fruit vinegar. Copies of the amended law can be had 

 upon application to the Dairy and Food Commissioner. 



THE SALE OF RENOVATED BUTTER. 



The high prices of butter prevailing throughout 1906 resulted in 

 the sale of an increased amount of renovated butter, and a corres- 

 ponding increase in the number of applicants for license certificates 

 from prospective dealers who desired to comply with the Pennsylva- 

 nia statute governing its sale. It is manifest, however, that there 

 are still a considerable number of dealers who will strain their con- 

 science by selling renovated butter for creamery butter, and thereby 

 make an increased profit by such deception. If the Federal and State 

 laws are complied with, the government tax stamp will be found on 

 the original package, while the pound packages will also bear the 

 imprint, "Renovated Butter," thus indicating its true character to 

 the buyer. All food products of whatsoever description should be 

 sold for what they are. It has again been intimated that the "trust" 

 would make a vigorous attack on the renovated butter law at the 

 next session of the Legislature to nullify its more rigid require- 

 ments; but it is not at all probable that the dairy interests could be 

 deceived by sophristy, or that they, would allow any material change 

 to be made in the law which has been tried and not found wanting. 

 The dairy interests must and will continue to receive protection in 

 Pennsylvania. 



THE USE OF CORN-OIL IN OLEOMARGARINE AND LARD. 



Maize, or corn oil, as it is better known, is a by-product in the man- 

 ufacture of starch and glucose. Its physical and chemical properties 

 and constitutents are said to be such that it is now being more 

 or less used as an adulterant in lard. Just at this writing. Prof. C. 

 H. La Wall, of Philadelphia, a chemist in the emjdoy of the Dairy 

 and Food Division, reports that he has detected corn oil in oleomar- 



