94 ANNITAL REPORT OF TKE Off. Doc. 



PRAISEWORTHY ANAL.AYTICAX. RESULTS. 



While the analaytical work performed during the past year ex- 

 ceeded in volume and importance that of any previous year In the 

 history of the Dairy and Food Division, as the reports of analyses 

 published in the Monthly Bulletin clearly demonstrate, there were 

 no complaints of errors or inaccuracies, and the Commissioner there- 

 fore takes especial pleasure in commending the several chemists for 

 their continued painstaking and watchful efforts to prevent an in- 

 justice being done. The new chemical laboratory established in this 

 city by the Commonwealth is equipped with a complete and modern 

 outfit, and the work assigned to it has again largely increased. The 

 experimental work was necessarily confined to a limited sphere be- 

 cause of the press of general work, but proved valuable and helpful. 



DANGER IN PROPOSED NEW FOOD LEGISLATION. 



The pure food law of June 26, 1895, when intelligently and reas- 

 onably enforced, cannot possibly be supplanted by any legislation 

 that would afl'ord better nor greater protection to public health and 

 the consumer in particular. It is apparent that certain interests 

 will demand changes and possibly a nev/ pure food law, so as to 

 more effectively and completely meet the requirements of the new 

 National food and drug statute. The Dairy and Food Commissioner 

 has at all times endeavored to perform his duties with fairness and 

 impartiality, and it would be indeed regretable if certain proposed 

 changes should seriously harass the present good work, and perhaps 

 nullify the excellent results of the past. 



PRESERVATIVES AND DYES IN FOOD. 



Hundreds of inquiries were received, relative to the use of chemi- 

 cal preservatives and coal-tar dyes, etc., in food products. The use 

 of benzoate of soda as a preservative is especially common and the 

 fact is known to nearly every intelligent housekeeper. Although no 

 definite official sanction has been promulgated by the Commissioner 

 for such action, the preservative continues to be used, but usually in 

 ..quantities not exceeding one-tenth of one per cent., and its presence 

 is stated on the label. The harmfulness of the preservative in ques- 

 tion, when used in small amounts, is the subject of an extensive re- 

 search on the part of the Federal authorities, and until their official 

 report is made public, the National and many State governments per- 

 mitted its use tentatively, if not definitely. Curious and singular as 

 it may appear, some of the largest producers of food products have 

 abandoned its use, while leading druggists also declared that there 

 was no longer a real necessity for its use in food products. 



INTERNATIONAL STEWARD'S ASSOCIATION. 



The International Stewards' Association has continued an active 

 campaign for pure food and liquor, notwithstanding that the stew- 

 ard or chef ordinarily could make a larger margin of profit, at the 

 expense of the stomachs of their guests, by purchasing adulterated 

 or inferior goods. It is most gratifying to state that in the case of 

 hotels and restaurants especially, there is less adulterated food used 

 today than has been at any period in the past. The association in 



