THE PRESERVATION OF FOOD BY COLD. 40 1 



the rate of change in them. The humidity of the storage chamber should 

 be kept constant at about 60 per cent saturation in order to dimmish 

 evaporation as far as possible without favoring the development of molds. 

 These foods generally remain alive during storage and the changes due 

 to intrinsic enzymes are often important. Some fruits need to undergo 

 further ripening in storage before they are ready for consumption and 

 this change may be accelerated or delayed by changing the temperature 

 of the storage chamber. The development of bacteria and molds with 

 consequent rotting is best delayed by maintaining dry clean fruits and 

 vegetables in an atmosphere of very constant humidity and very constant 

 temperature slightly above the freezing-point. 



LEGAL CONTROL OF THE COLD-STORAGE INDUSTRY. 



At present there is a rather widespread prejudice against cold-storage 

 food products, and in some respects this is not without justification. 

 Cold storage preserves so well the external appearance of fresh foods that 

 deception in the sale of them to the consumer is too frequently practised. 

 This is extremely unfortunate for all parties concerned in such transac- 

 tions. The proper branding of all cold-storage foods, clearly indicating 

 their character and the length of time held in storage, would ultimately 

 benefit the producer, the consumer and also the cold-storage industry. 

 Where cold storage is efficient such a practice would proclaim its efficiency. 

 Where it is inefficient the cold-storage industry can ill afford to allow the 

 consumer to be deceived concerning the food he is purchasing. Laws 

 compelling the proper labeling of such foods and prohibiting their sale 

 except when branded as such would quickly remove unjust prejudice 

 against cold storage, and would place this industry upon a secure founda- 

 tion, greatly increasing the possibilities of its service to the food producers 

 and consumers, and at the same time promoting the legitimate interests 

 of the cold-storage industry. 



26 



