14 COAL-TAB COLORS USED IN FOOD PRODUCTS. 



to secure, either on his own account, or from the person from whom he buys such color, 

 a certificate to the effect that the identical color used has been tested for poisonout 

 ingredients, and is, to the knowledge of the chemist making the test, absolutely harm- 

 less. The chemist should be required to be a competent physiological chemist, and 

 must certify as above under oath. This would mean not that each package of coloj 

 would have to be tested, but that every batch would have to be tested, and the 

 certificate would then be held to relate to every batch. Such tests should be made 

 in the United States and the chemist certifying should reside in and be a citizen of 

 the United States. 



It should not be deemed sufficient to have any particular brand of coal-tar color 

 tested once, and a blanket certificate given, covering the whole brand as long as it may 

 be sold, but every ounce of coal-tar color put out by a color manufacturer should be 

 shown by actual test to be harmless. 



While the exact mode of reaching the end in view is somewhat dif- 

 ferent from the one suggested above, yet the fundamental object, that 

 each batch of color used in foods shall be specifically tested, and that 

 such colors shall be harmless, is attained with reasonable certainty; 

 and although there are colors other than these seven which are 

 undoubtedly equally as little objectionable, and while it is true that 

 the present policy contemplates the permitted use of but seven 

 specific colors, yet that policy, as before outlined, is sufficiently broad 

 and elastic to enable the addition of a color to the permitted list, 

 when it is shown that such color really fills a need, not properly satis- 

 fied by one of the colors already permitted or some combination of 

 these, and is in and of itself harmless. There can be no objection to 

 the expansion of the list to such an extent as to include every harmless 

 coal-tar color in existence; but the burden of proving such real need 

 and harmlessness is very properly placed upon those who are seek- 

 ing such expansion. 



As far back as 1892 the following statement was made on page IV 

 of the Leffmann translation of WeyFs book on coal-tar colors, in con- 

 nection with the various European legislative enactments: "It is 

 certain that none of these plans is even approximately satisfactory 

 and the problem will be even more difficult of solution in the United 

 States; indeed, it seems to me to be unsolvable." In view of this 

 opinion the results of the food inspection decisions as herein shown 

 may properly be regarded as, at least, a step in the right direction 

 toward the solution of this problem. 



This opinion is further supported by C. A. Neufeld who, in review- 

 ing Food Inspection Decision No. 76, says: "The idea of permitting 

 only specific selected coloring matters for use in the production oi 

 articles of food, and of excluding all other colors from such uses, must, 

 in the interest of control of articles of food, be regarded as an extra- 

 ordinarily happy one; a similar regulation is to be urgently recom- 

 mended for our own country." (Zts. Nahr. Genussm., 1908, v. 15, 



v . 434.) 



