346 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
U. S. statistics of Manufacture of Oleomargarine. 
1901 .104,943,856 
1902 126,316,472 
1903 71,804,102 
1904 48,071,480 
1905 49,880,982 
1906 53,146,459 
1907 68,988,639 
1908 79,107,273 
At this writing, Nov. 1, 1908, there are 110 licensed dealers in un- 
colored oleomargarine in Iowa and doubtless before spring there 
will be as many more added to this number. The statute in this 
state prohibits the sale of oleomargarine if it has a yelloiu color. 
When the first sales of uncolored oleomargarine were made in this 
state in 1902 the dairy commissioner began a case against the 
Armour Packing Co., doing business in Des Moines and there selling 
so-called uncolored oleomargarine. The offense alleged was that 
the oleomargarine had a yellow color and that such sale was con- 
trary to the statute. The sample purchased had not been artificially 
colored but nevertheless had a considerable yellow color and could 
easily have been sold for butter to any unwary purchaser. The 
case was hard fought both in the district court and in the supreme 
court and resulted in establishing the contention of the commis- 
sioner. Under this decision the sale in this state of oleomargarine 
having a yellow color is prohibited, no matter whether the color 
arises from some artificial added color or from the color of the fats 
of which the article is composed. Following this decision others 
of similar import have been secured in other states and the manu- 
facturers have been making grades of uncolored oleomargarine al- 
most or quite white for sale in states where the statutes are as strict 
as those of Iowa. The sale of such product has been greatly urged 
by the manufacturers and the number of dealers has very greatly 
increased under their efforts. 
Very little oleomargarine is sold in this state during the 
summer but as soon as cold weather comes and the accompanying 
higher price for butter then the sale of oleomargarine begins and in 
localities assumes considerable proportions. The licenses issued are 
mainly for the larger cities as will be seen by the list below, but the 
smaller country communities also are beginning the sale of this pro- 
duct. 
