S8 ANNUAL r.EFORT OF TKB Off. Doc. 



MISREPRESENTING FOOD OFFICIALS. 



Uuscrupulous manufacturers have at different times promulgated 

 claims to the effect that the United Stales Government authorities 

 as well as the Teunsylvania Dairy and Food officials had officially 

 endorsed and guaranteed the purity of their goods. Reference to 

 this subject Vv'as made m previous reports, and the Commissioner 

 therefore can only reiterate the statement that no such authority 

 was given or implied in Pennsylvania. The manufacturer may make 

 and offer for sale pure goods, and individually, he is perfectly privi- 

 leged to present such a guarantee; but, he cannot authoratively 

 assert that the Dairy and Food Commissioner has endorsed the 

 purity and wholesomeness of such article. The analytical reports 

 which appear in the Monthly Bulletin are open to public inspection 

 and form their own comments, but beyond the publication of such 

 reports, the Dairy and Food Division neither courts nor claims re- 

 sponsibility. Such improper ad\^ertising is to say the least of doubt- 

 ful propriety, if not entirely indefensible. The Commonwealth of 

 Pennsylvania, reports to the contrary nothwithstanding, does not 

 guarantee any article of food. 



A DEMAND FOR BETTER BREAD. 



With the increase of scientific knowledge amongst the people 

 generally, comes a demand for the better sanitary surroundings in 

 all food producing establishments. Letters complaining about un- 

 sanitary bake-shops, etc., were not infrequent. Others alleged that 

 they were deceived through the purchase of ''mixed flour;" others 

 again claimed that employes Vvith malignant ulcers and sores 

 worked in bakeries, while still others protested against the em- 

 ployment of tuberculou.s people in bakeries. According to experi- 

 ments made in Paris, the latter protest was well-founded. The re- 

 port reads as follows: ''The experimentor was struck with the idea 

 that, taking into consideration the xjhysical conditions of many 

 bakers, it might be possible that infectious diseases should be trans- 

 mitted in that way. He introduced into some dough balls some 

 Baccillus tuberculosis. The dough was baked in the ordinary fashion 

 and the bread fed to pigs. They died, and on being examined it was 

 found that death was due to tuberculosis. These facts and theories 

 are not new, and the only bearing they have at present is to 

 accentuate the position wiiich is taken now, by sensible scientists 

 and by intelligent tradesmen, of the necessity of producing bread 

 under as good and cleanly conditions as are possible." 



UNFOUNDED COMPLAINTS AS TO FOOD PRODUCTS. 



What may be regarded variableness of formulas for making vari- 

 ous food products frequently misleads the consumer as to quality 

 and healthfulness, and as a result, a letter of complaint is filed with 

 the Dairy and Food Commissioner. If such article is sold for what 

 it is, and does not contain any illegal constituent, the rights of the 

 purveyor cannot be questioned. Of course, unsanitary conditions 

 should not be tolerated, neither should the public be deceived as 

 to the quality and merit of an article of food. A "trick" or an im- 

 position' invariably yields trouble for the manufacturer and dealer, 

 but wherever practicable, full justice will be done to all concerned. 



