The Bulletin. 9 



preservative to keep them in good condition; but in most products, 

 especially in such as condensed milk, canned meats, canned soups, 

 canned vegetables, canned fruit, mince-meat, preserves, jam, jelly, 

 pickles, etc., there is absolutely no need for the use of a chemical 

 preservative. The high-class manufacturers of this country have 

 shown beyond a doubt that chemical preservatives are unnecessary 

 in such products. A few manufacturers clairr^that a better product 

 can be made by the use of a chemical presen ]'ve than can be made 

 without it. The facts in the case, however, do not bear out their 

 statement. The results of the examinations of this Department 

 during the past ten years show that chemical preservatives have not 

 been used in the higher class products; but, on the contrary, they 

 were found in the lower, cheaper grades, that were often otherwise 

 adulterated. If a better product can be made by the use of a chem- 

 ical preservative, then why has the use of the chemical preservative 

 been confined so much to the inferior and often otherwise adulterated 

 products instead of the higher class ones ? And why have most of the 

 high-class manufacturers either never used or have discontinued the 

 use of chemical preservatives? It would seem that the only con- 

 clusion is that the preservative was not and is not used to improve the 

 quality of the product, but to cheapen it. That being the case, then 

 why use a product that contains a chemical that may be injurious to 

 health ? The effect of benzoate of soda on health is a disputed ques- 

 tion, of course ; but why take the risk of permanent injury to health 

 that may produce an earlier death when there is no need for it ? 



After having made experiments for the government to test the ef- 

 fect of benzoate of soda on health, one set of officials say that it is 

 injurious to health; another set say that it is not. Many State of- 

 ficials think the use of benzoate in food objectionable, and the Medical 

 Association of America, composed of the leading physicians of the 

 country, has condemned its use in food. Then, if just as good prod- 

 ucts can be made without the use of benzoate as can be made with it, 

 why use a product that is questionable, and probably injurious to 

 health? If benzoate is injurious to health, or even questionable, the 

 question arises, then, why not prevent its use in food by law? The 

 answer is this : If benzoate in food is not injurious to health, the State 

 probably cannot prevent its use. To-day no man can say with cer- 

 tainty that it is or is not injurious to health. Manufacturers only who 

 profit by its use have questioned the constitutional right of States 

 to prohibit its use. The matter is now before the Federal courts to 

 determine whether States have the power to prevent the use of ben- 

 zoate or not. 



It is to be hoped that the mattter will soon be settled by the courts. 

 Fntil that time, we can only warn the public of the possible danger 

 and advise against the use of benzoate in food. 



