626 MISCELLANEOUS FARM SUBJECTS 



Extracts for flavoring in many cases are not made from the 

 material claimed. Some lemon extracts contain no lemon oil what- 

 ever. Vanilla substitutes are made from the tonka bean ; and there 

 are others that could claim as marked a reputation for the fraud 

 perpetrated. 



Milk is often watered or skimmed, or both, and a preservative, 

 generally formaldehyde, is added and sometimes a color. Chemic- 

 ally preserved milk is often fed to the babies, with effects of which 

 we sometimes have our suspicion. Ice creams are adulterated with 

 starch, gelatine, and made of skim milk, served in "cones" preserved 

 with borax. 



Oysters are preserved with formaldehyde. Pickles contain 

 copper salts to fix the green color. They sometimes contain a pre- 

 servative also. 



Canned vegetables are soaked goods in a number of cases; 

 preservatives have been found in a large number of cases, and ani- 

 line dyes, or other coloring matter. Canned fruits are often colored 

 and a preservative added. Some vegetables and fruits contain 

 acids which attack the tin, forming a poisonous compound. 



Distilled vinegar made from wood is colored with burned sugar 

 and sold as cider vinegar. The retailer oftentimes adds water to fill 

 up until the customer is practically paying for so much sour water. 



FOOD LAWS. 



Three purposes are contemplated in the enactment of food 

 control laws. The protection of public health, the protection of 

 the consumer against fraud and the protection of honest industry. 

 If the adulteration of foods presented a hygienic problem only 

 these laws would be easy -to enforce. But the problem presents a 

 commercial side; many interests are intrenched in the business of 

 adulterating and false labeling, so much so that food commerce 

 must be revolutionized before the principles of honest standards 

 and truthful labels will be put into practical effect in the factory. 



It is claimed that honest labels discriminate in favor of the 

 genuine product. All products have the right to whatever dis- 

 crimination the merit system of competition will impose. 



Food legislation has claimed much attention abroad but al- 

 though a Federal pure food bill has been before Congress continu- 

 ously for over twenty years it was not until June 30, 190'6, that 

 such a bill became a law and provisions made for carrying it into 

 effect. 



Scope. The law forbids the introduction into a State or Ter- 

 ritory of any article of food or drugs, adulterated in the meaning 

 of the act, from any foreign country, State or Territory, or the Dis- 

 trict of Columbia, or its shipment to a foreign country. The regu- 

 lations for carrying out the provisions of the act are to be made by 

 the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Agriculture, and 

 the Secretary of Commerce and Labor. The examinations of speci- 

 mens of food and drugs are to be made by the Bureau of Chemistry 

 or under its direction. It is the duty of each district attorney to 

 whom the Secretary of Agriculture shall report any violation of 



