104 FOOD SUBSTITUTES AND ADULTERANTS 



crushed strawberries is never as brilliant as the red from a coal 

 tar dye. The cheapness of coal tar dyes has made them popular 

 with the manufacturer; their brilliancy has made them popular 

 with the purchaser. Unfortunately many coal tar dyes are 

 manufactured in such a way that they contain some arsenic, 

 and since arsenic is poisonous to the system, foods colored with 

 coal tar dyes may be harmful. Practically no vegetable dyes are 

 sold to-day, and all artificial coloring is made with coal tar dyes. 

 For this reason, the public should be educated to give up its 

 preference for " pretty " candies and icings and be satisfied 

 with the natural product. 



Pure Food Laws. Thousands of people think that the 

 statement " Guaranteed under the Food and Drugs Act, June 

 30, 1906 " is a guarantee by the Government of the purity and 

 wholesomeness of the food bearing the label. This is not true. 

 The Government has not examined the material and the manu- 

 facturer has printed the label. " Guaranteed under the Pure 

 Food Act " is merely the manufacturer's statement to the 

 Government that he does not consider his products adulterated, 

 misbranded, or injurious to health. Food products containing 

 the guarantee should be just as carefully examined by the 

 purchaser as though the guarantee were not there. 



