FOODS — HUMAN NUTRITION. 1065 



.',.'1-.;!), itj). 7; (iO-H'i. iiji. 1; : c:,. itp. lU; 66-68, pp. 5). — The decisions which have 

 been rendered nndcr tlic provisions of the ))ure food hnv rej^arding the scope 

 and uieanhig of tlic law; lahelinj; of j^oods ; tlie scope and purpose of food 

 inspectiou decisions relative to importation; hibeling of whisl^y, blends, com- 

 l)Ounds, and imitations; the use of sugar in canned foods; and related ques- 

 tions are taken up in these ])Ublications. They are designed to inform importers 

 and exporters of food jiroducts and the public generally of the opinions ren- 

 dered by the Secretary of Agriculture under the existing laws relating to the 

 examination of food products before shipment to foreign countries and to the 

 examination of food products imported into the United States and goods for 

 interstate trade. The last of the publications mentioned contains a detailed list 

 of the subjects taken up to date in the decisions. 



Report of food commissioner, E. F. Ladd (Nortli Dakotd Sfa. Rpt. JUoG, />l. 

 2. /III. IH'i. /</v. J). — Under the provisions of the State pure-food law, canned 

 vegetables, jams, jellies, preserves, maple sirups and sugar, coffee, lard, candies 

 and confectionery, drugs, medicines and beverages, etc., were examined. Ac- 

 cording to the author, the canned vegetables offered for sale in North Dakota 

 ar(> now of good quality and free from adulteration. "There has not been found 

 on the market in this State a single brand of corn, peas, string beans, or toma- 

 toes during the past year which contained chemical preservatives, saccharin, or 

 coal-tar dyes." Some jams, jellies, and similar goods were found which were 

 not true to name or which were of unsatisfactory character. 



"There has been a marked improvement in the character of the maple sirups 

 offered for sale in the State during the past year. . . . 



■ There has been some improvement in the character of the coffee offered for 

 sale in the State, but there are still abuses which should be corrected. Some 

 of these have sprung up as the result of a popular demand for a particular 

 type of coffee, which as a rule is not to be had in any appreciable (luantity. 

 and other grades have been substituted in the place therefor." 



While considerable imi)rovement was noticeable, the quality of candies offered 

 for sale in the State was not regarded on the whole as satisfactory, adultera- 

 tion or sophistication being found in a number of cases. 



Lard sold in i)ails or i)ackages was not infrequently found to be short weight. 



" Since the enforcement of the food law in this State there has been a marked 

 improvement in the character of the meat products offered for sale in North 

 Dakota. Formerly preservatives, especially sulphites and borates, were largely 

 cm))loyed as preserving agents in meats, but after numerous prosecutions of 

 offenders, not only local butchers but packers as well discontinued the use of 

 preservatives as well as of coloring matter in the meat intended to be sold in 

 this State." 



Tlie comparative merits of drawn r. undrawn poultry for cold storage are 

 discussed, and, according to the author, the State food department has always 

 intended that ixmltry shoidd never be thus stored initil it has l)een i)roi)erly 

 drawn. 



Food analyses, U. M. S. Bailey (liiil. Kivis. Bd. Health. 3 {1907). .Yo. 2. /)/). 

 .Ui~.i'.)). — Tlie examination of a nimiber of samples of oysters for copper showed 

 that it was present in amounts ranging from quantities so small that it could 

 not be readily determined to an amount equivalent to 0.0!) per cent of coi)]>er 

 sulphate. 



" In regard to the occurrence of copper in oysters, this has been ascril)ed to 

 various causes, but there is no evidence that would lead one to believe that it 

 is introduced by the shipper or dealer. . . . 



"Although a small amount of coj>per in oysters may not be an indication tliat 



