INSPECTION OF COMMERCIAL FEEDSTUFFS 15 



Ground Oats 



The analysis of a few samples of ground oats during the 1946-1947 inspection 

 season indicated the need of a careful scrutiny of the quality of ground oats 

 shipped into and sold in Massachusetts. Accordingly it was planned to make an 

 extensive survey of this product during the 1947-1948 inspection season, and 68 

 samples of ground oats, representing products of 27 manufacturers, were col- 

 lected and ana h zed. 



In order to provide a basis for comparison, 20 samples of graded whole oats 

 were ground and analyzed. With the exception of No. 4 Grade and Sample 

 Grade, care was taken to have at least four different test weights represented 

 in each of the grades. Thirteen of these sajnples were Federal graded samples 

 obtained from Mr. M. B. Gleason, Officer in Charge, Boston Grain Branch, 

 Production and Marketing Administration, U.S.D.A. The other seven samples 

 were graded at this laboratory. 



A study of the data given in the ground oats table in comparison with those 

 for whole oats reveals significant variations in composition. 



It is noted that the ash content of the whole oats does not exceed 3.7 percent 

 in any case. The ash content of the ground oats samples varies from 3.0 to 11.6 

 percent. In general it may be stated that an ash content of pver 4 percent in 

 ground oats should be viewed with suspicion. The abnormal ash content may 

 be due to added screenings containing a large percentage of acid insoluble mater- 

 ial. It may be due, also, to the addition of high adcium limestone or dolomitic 

 limestone or some other mineral diluent. 



During the past two years the products of three concerns were found to be 

 contaminated or adulterated with limestone on a large scale. When asked for 

 an explanation for the presence of the limestone, each company offered a dif- 

 ferent one. These explanations may be of interest to the reader. 



The representative of one company stated that it was experiencing labor trouble 

 at its plant, particularly with the night shift. It was presumed by this repre- 

 sentative that certain members of the night shift were adding limestone sur- 

 reptitiously to the ground oats as a means of "getting even" with the manage- 

 ment. This must have been done with a great deal of confidence on the workers' 

 part in the alertness of the State Control Officials. If undetected by Control 

 Officials, such practice necessarily means a nice profit to the company. 



A representative from the second company stated that they were receiving 

 calcium carbonate in bulk and that the same conveyors were used for all their 

 bulk ingredients. He suggested the possibility of a residue of calcium carbonate 

 on the convenors when the}' were used for mo\'ing oat shipments. 



The third company's representative stated it had been suggested to his firm 

 that "calcium" would retard heating in bins. Therefore, they used a high grade 

 of feeding "calcium" which not only retarded heating but successfully stopped 

 heating already begun. Apparently this firm considers dolomitic limestone as 

 high grade feeding "calcium." 



Three Federal samples were taken from shipments made by Doughboy Indus- 

 tries, Inc., Richmond, Wisconsin, and three such samples were taken from ship- 

 ments made by Van Dam & Sons, Casco, Wisconsin. The analytical data and 

 shipping records on the six samples were submitted to the Federal Food and 

 Drug Administration, Federal Security Agency, for action by the Administration. 



Getting back to the data presented in the ground oats table: the fat content 

 was found to vary from 3.5 to 6.1 percent. The lowest fat content found in the 

 whole oats was 4.7 percent. As a rule, a fat content below 4.5 percent in ground 

 oats indicates that the product is not straight ground oats. 



