368 FOOD AND NUTRITION 



the meat is preserved from decay. Such treatment is known 



as pickling. Often other preservatives than salt are used. 



Saltpeter is often employed. It is 



not known that salt and saltpeter 



injure the meat in any way. But 



other and poisonous materials are 



sometimes used. These include 



ALL OF OUR HAMBURG 



STEAK CONTAINS 



SODIUM SULPHITE. 



borax, boric acid, sulphurous acid, FIG. 257. sign in a meat 

 and sulphites. They are powerful market, 



preservatives, and when taken in large amounts with the food 

 are injurious to the health. Sulphurous acid and sulphites 

 also impart a red color to the meat, thus causing it to appear 

 fresh. Chopped meats are often treated with sulphites to 

 prevent decay and to keep the meat red. Many states have 

 laws which limit the amount of such preservatives that may 

 be used and also provide that the purchaser shall be informed 

 of the presence of the chemical in the meat (Fig, 257). In 

 this latter respect the law is often disobeyed. 



410. Meat Inspection. At all establishments at which 

 animals are slaughtered for food which is to be shipped from 

 one state to another, the United States Government stations 

 officers whose duty it is to inspect all animals that are to be 

 slaughtered and also to inspect the meat produced to SQC that 

 it is fit for human food. Diseased animals are condemned and 

 destroyed so as not to be used for food purposes. Food that is 

 passed by the inspectors is marked "U. S. INSPECTED AND 

 PASSED." The United States inspectors work in conjunction 

 with state and city food inspectors and thus largely prevent 

 the coming on the market of meat unfit for human con- 

 sumption. 



411. Lard and Lard Substitutes. When the fat of the hog 

 is rendered, LAKD is obtained. Because of its rather high 

 price lard is frequently adulterated with cheaper fats, 

 beef tallow and cotton seed oil being used for the purpose. 

 Such mixtures are highly nutritious. They must be sold, 

 however, as a COMPOUND LARD, 



