TWENTY-FIRST ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART VI 477 



FOOD AND SANITARY INSPECTION. 



Due to high food prices which prevailed during the past year it was 

 found necessary to conduct even more rigid inspection than in former 

 years. Certain dealers were unable to resist the temptation to dispose 

 of partially decomposed food, in violation of the law while others resorted 

 to the use of saccharine to displace high priced sugar. During the period 

 extending from January 1, 1919, to August 1, 1920, a total of 117 prosecu- 

 tions was made by this department for violations of the food law. During 

 the same period 95 prosecutions were made for violations of the sanitary 

 law. Of the food violators, sixteen who were brought to trial were using 

 saccharine in the manufacture of soft drinks. The Iowa law is very strict 

 in its regulations as to branding and adulteration. The law requires that 

 the labels on all packages of foods must not be misleading either as to 

 their composition or statement of the quantity contained in the package. 

 Pictures which are misleading are not permitted, for example, a picture 

 of a maple tree with the sap flowing into buckets, is not permitted on a 

 can of imitation maple syrup, nor the picture of a Guernsey cow upon the 

 label of a package of oleomargarine. If a food is made up of different in- 

 gredients the label must show a list of these ingredients printed in plain 

 legible type. It will be seen that the law provides that the consumer 

 must be given sufficient information on labels of food products so that he 

 will know what he is buying. This is not an unreasonable requirement, 

 for surely those who pay their money for foods are entitled to all possible 

 information regarding their purity and composition as well as the quan- 

 tity. 



For several years after the enactment of food laws, manufacturers were 

 with difficulty forced to truthfully label their products, and many evasions 

 were attempted. In many cases the statement of quantity was made in 

 very small type or placed on the back or side of the package where it 

 was not seen unless a search was made for it. The law requires that this 

 statement must be made upon the main label and in plain legible type. 

 A search among package foods on the grocers shelves will show a general 

 compliance with the law. 



ADULTERATION. 



In former years much of the cocoa sold was mixed with cocoa shells 

 as they were a by-product in the manufacture of cocoa. These shells to- 

 day are packed and sold as ground cocoa shells for making a low grade 

 cocoa; as the law requires that cocoa mixed with shells must be labelled 

 to show the presence of these shells and the manufacturer, realizing that 

 this would effect the sale of his product, has ceased this practice entirely. 



The mixing of chicory and roasted cereals with coffee, a common prac- 

 tice in past years, is now sold as a compound of coffee, chicory and cereal 

 often under the name of "Cereal Coffee." 



Confectionery, at one time grossly adulterated with parafine and inert 

 materials and colored with dyes often injurious is now made under sani- 

 tary conditions and of pure wholesome materials and colored with dyes 

 that are passed by the Federal and State authorities as perfectly harm- 



