82 THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



name or label under which it is sold. Change of name or 

 label so as correctly to describe the product will relieve it 

 from the charge of adulteration, which could otherwise be 

 maintained against it, because of false or misleading state- 

 ments or representations as to its identity, quality or 

 strength. 



Adulteration of the second class of articles is inherent in 

 the articles themselves, irrespective of names or labels, and 

 cannot be corrected by renaming or relabeling. The more 

 important provisions of the act affecting products of this 

 class declare those foods adulterated which *' consist, in 

 whole or in part, of a filthy, decomposed, or putrid sub- 

 stance, or any portion of an animal unfit for food," or con- 

 taining any added poisonous or deleterious ingredient which 

 may render the article injurious to health. 



The food and drugs act contains no provision as to the 

 adulteration of drugs in any popular sense of the word. 

 Whether a drug is adulterated or not depends solely upon 

 the labeling of the container. The various kinds of 

 " adulteration " of drugs which are prohibited may all be 

 cured by correct or honest labeling. 



The limitations and restrictions within the statute itself 

 coupled with serious omissions, such as the absence of 

 authority to inspect establishments where foods and drugs 

 are manufactured, prepared, or stored, the lack of legal 

 standards for foods, and the failure to take cognizance of 

 fraudulent statements covering foods and drugs which are 

 not in or upon the food or drug package; these and other 

 limitations have made this law exceptionally difficult to 

 administer effectively. It was to call attention to this fact 

 that these shortcomings of the law have been dwelt upon 

 somewhat at length. The so-called Shirley amendment, 

 already mentioned, is one step in the direction of strength- 

 ening the original act. 



The food and drugs act is administered, under the Secre- 

 tary of Agriculture, by the Bureau of Chemistry. This 

 work constitutes the principal, but by no means, the only 



