816 



Ko. 25 of the Division of Chemistry. It inclndes general statements 

 regarding the extent and cliaracter of f<t(»d adnlterations: the opinion of 

 State officials and otliers regarding the need of national legislation on 

 this subject; statements regarding the substances used as adulterants 

 of foods, beverages, drugs, and nianuftictured articles; the text of State 

 and other laws relating to foods and beverages; and a list of State offi- 

 cers who are charged with food inspection. 



That adulteration exists to a most alaniiiiijj oxtiMit fan not, from the evidence, he 

 doubted; that the character is generally Irandnlent rather than dangerous seems to 

 be also ])retty well established. » « » 



Wholesome laws have succei'ded in du'cking the commercial frauds, but it is gen- 

 erallj- conceded by all State officers engaged in the work that until national legisla- 

 tion supplements State laws, all such enactments will prove insulHcient and unsat. 

 isfactory. The report from London shows tliat the anti-adulteration laws of (ireat 

 Britain have almost entirely 8t<»pped the nefarious practice. The laws of New York, 

 New Jersey, and Massachusetts, which have been fairly well enforced, have done 

 much towards stopping the practice, or at least «ompclliiig the jiroprr branding id' 

 the articles sold. • » • 



While commercial frauds are the rule, there are, as is proven, many ca.ses where ill 

 health and even death follow the use of articles jxtisoned with pigments, acids, 

 tin, rancid oils, and otlur injurious commo<lifies whi< h are useil to cheapen or add 

 beauty to the artich- sold. 



Polishing, ]>owderiiig. watering, and aililing such h.irniless ingredients as e.ntli, 

 crackerdust, peas, beans, starch, <'tc., are <omiiaratively harmless, .•ind would ]»ass for 

 honesty and uprightness when comjiareil with the compositions abtive alluded to, and 

 others, such as plaster of Paris, soapstone, fusel oil, red ocher, lullor's earth, terra alba, 

 and other ingredients of like diaracter; but even these are less harmful than the 

 adulterations of drugs, by whi<-h, as is shown, the very element of strength, upon 

 which the phy.sician relies to save life, is often extracted, left out, or dilute<l until it 

 becomes a matter of grave doubt whether a ])rescrii>tion really contains what is 

 ordered by the ]diysician. • « • 



No reason exists for a chiinge of the views ex]iressed in Bulletin No. 25 as to tlu' 

 cost to the country of frauduhiit a<lult<^rations. and while those figures have been 

 attacked in certain quarters, still it is undoubtedly safe ti> estimate that at least l.'i 

 per cent of the entire food product is adulterated in one form or another, the over- 

 whelming proportion of which is sold under fraudulent brands. 



Kcccnt State la\vs are gradually rectifying this evil, but as long as the artiile is 

 branded " jmro " when it is " com]»oundcd," just so long is the deee])tion a fraud and 

 the purchaser swindled. • ' » 



All correspondents who have touched tipon the subject unite in the opiniim that 

 the demand for national inspection is general and absolutely necessary. • • • 

 Reputable nu^rchants and manufacturers unite in urging general legislation backed 

 by the State officials, most of whom in their report,s c)un]dain of the lack of national 

 laws and of inefficient laws or want of laws in .idjoiuing States, which makes the 

 cnforcenu'ut of local laws much hanlcr work, and in certain lases makes the law 

 almost a dead letter. 



Such laws as are enforced are giving such general satisfaction to consumers .'ind to 

 Inmest dealers that we find each year more rigid enforcement of the statutes, and 

 that the field is griidually widening and additional ttMTitory is being covered, while 

 in those States which ha\e for the longest ]>eriod been regulating the food sui>i>l\ 

 we lind amendmiiits which greatly aid the inspeclors in the i>erlormance of their 

 work. All that is now lacking seems to be the enactment of a Pcileral law govern- 

 ing the interstate eonnueree question, ami misbranding (whiih is the greatest e\ il t 

 will at no distant day become so rare that here, as in Knghnul, the fraudulent 

 dealer will have ceased to jily his vocation to any injurious extent. 



