10 The Bulletin. 



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 

 effect 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 Medi- 

 cal Association of America, composed of the leading physicians of 

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

 products 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 can not prevent its use. Today no man can say 

 with certainty 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 benzoate or not. 



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

 Until that time we can only warn the public of the possible danger 

 and advise against the use of benzoate in food." 



