1919] 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



557 



FOODS— HUMAN NUTRITION. 



A selective bibliography on dehydrated foods, E. D. Greenman (Spec. Li- 

 braries, 10 {1919), No. Jf, pp. 108-118). — This is a bibliograpliy of 370 references 

 classified under the following lieadings: General; apparatus; fruits, including 

 general, apples, apricots, prunes, pears, etc., bananas, figs, raisins, li^erries ; 

 vegetables ; potatoes ; milk ; eggs ; and meat. 



An aerobic spore-forming bacillus in canned salmon, A. C. Hunter and 

 C. Thoji (Jour. Indus, and Engin. Cheni., 11 (1919), No. 7, pp. 655-657).— Bac- 

 teriological examination, at the Bureau of Chemistry, U. S. Department of 

 Agriculture, of 530 cans of salmon representing 9 brands showed 237 unsterile 

 cans, 224 of which were found to contain the same organism either in pure 

 culture or in connection with other species. The organism, thought to be a 

 member of the mesentericus group, was an obligate aerobic spore-former, gram 

 positive, and motile. Its most characteristic feature was the production of a 

 dark red ring about half an inch below the colony wdien grown on solid carbo- 

 hydrate media. When sterile fish was present in the medium, the red color 

 was often imparted to it and a marked softening of the fish took place. 



Only 13 of the unsterile cans showed active spoilage, indicating that the 

 bacteria in most cases w-ere in a dormant state while in the can and would grow 

 only when more favorable conditions were supplied. Several of the sterile 

 cans showed spoilage, indicating that sterility is not to be confused with fit- 

 ness for food. 



The authors state in conclusion that " actual sterility is very properly the aim 

 of the packer. The survival of viable organisms in the final prodiict may 

 occasionally be unavoidable, but calls for a careful survey of their source 

 and significance with a view to their complete destruction." 



The nutritive value and cost of some important vegetables, M. Rubner 

 (Berlin. Klin. Wchnschr., 53 (1916), No. 15, pp. 385-390).— A detailed study is 

 reported of the nutritive value of the edible portion of several winter vege- 

 tables and fruits with relation to their cost. Analytical data are given on the 

 composition of apples, rutabagas, beets, horse-radish, comfrey, turnips, red 

 cabbage, carrots, savoy, Brussels sprouts, hazelnuts, kale, edible Boletus, and 

 spinach. 



Nutritive value of the carob bean, M. E. Jaffa and F. W. Albro ( California 

 Sta. Bui. 309 (1919), pp. 441-450, figs, g).— Analyses of carob bean (Ceratonia 

 siliqua) pods and seeds are reported, and their nutritive value is discussed. 

 The average of the analyses is summarized in the following table : 



Composition of carob bean pods and seeds. 



Because of the richness of the carob bean in sugar, the use as human food is 

 suggested of those varieties which show a minimum of crude fiber. " Excel- 

 lent use could be made of the powdered carob pod by those vpho need more 

 roughage than that supplied by the ordinary diet." 



