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CIRCULAR TO THE TRADE. 



UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 



DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY, 

 Washing Ion, D. C., , 1889. 



DEAR SIR: Having been appointed a special agent of this Department to prepare 

 "a report of a popular character on the extent of the adulterations of food supplies," I 

 ain anxious to learn from all reliable sources possible- 

 First : The extent of adulterations. 



Second : The extent of adulterations injurious to health. 



Third : The extent of sophisticated goqds that are sold as pure. 



I am anxious to present a report based upon facts, not conjecture, which will do 

 no injustice to any person or trade, and at the same time show favor to none, and 

 present a true statement of the condition of the matter treated ; therefore I ask the 

 various trades engaged in the manufacture of food products to aid me with such data 

 as they can furnish, so as toenable me to produce such a statement as will be of serv- 

 ice to the commercial and agricultural interest of the country. 



I inclose an addressed and franked envelope for reply. 



Trusting you will aid us as far as you can conveniently, I am 

 Yours, respectfully, 



ALEX. J. WEDDERBURN, 



Special Agent. 



Please state your name, , address, . business, . 



To what extent, if any, does adulteration exist in your trade f . 



State what adulterants are used . 



Are they, or any of them, injurious to health ; and, if so, which ? . 



What is the estimated adulteration in your trade, what percentage of reduction 

 does it make in the cost of the articles ? . 



What is the relative reduction of the sophisticated articles to the retailer, and what 

 is the reduction to the consumer ? . 



Are the adulterated articles branded true to name, or are they misbranded and 

 sold as pure goods ? . 



Can you refer me to any positive evidence of adulterations or misbrandings of food 

 products in your own or other trades? . 



Will you kindly give me any further information of a reliable character that will 

 enable me to properly represent your trade in my report ? . 



LAWS RELATING TO ADULTERATION. 



New York passed a general law in 1381. 



Michigan passed a general law in 1881. 



New Jersey passed a general law in 1881. 



Massachusetts passed a general law in 188*2, which was amended and improved in 

 1880. 



The full text of the above laws (except the last) can be found in Part 2, Bulletin 13, 

 Department of Agriculture ; as can also be found the Canadian laws. The adultera- 

 tion act, "Food, drug, and fertilizer." 



New York and Massachusetts have special laws relating to dairy products and vin- 

 egar. 



New York, Ohio, and California have special wine laws. 



Twenty-three States have laws against the adulteration of dairy products. 



Illinois and Maine have stringent laws against the sale of adulterated lard. 



The United States have laws regulating and prohibiting the importation of teas 

 and drugs not of a standard quality, also regulating the sale of oleomargarine. 



