FOOD INSPECTION. 



Chas. D. Woods, Director. 



L. H. [Merrill, Chemist in charge of food anal\-sis. 



The legislature of 1905 enacted a law to regulate the sale and 

 analysis of food. This is, however, by no means the pioneer 

 attempt in food legislation. Several years ago Massachusetts, 

 Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and 

 other eastern states enacted laws looking to the prevention of. 

 adulteration of foods. Naturally many mistakes were made and 

 these from time to time were corrected by special acts. Profit- 

 ing by the experience of these eastern states, some states in 

 the middle west, notably Ohio, Wisconsin, Kentucky and North 

 Dakota, have since enacted laws which are simpler and vet more 

 far reaching in their effects. 



In the last few years there has been a large amount of agita- 

 tion looking toward national legislation to regulate the inter- 

 state commerce as regards the purity of food. This discussion 

 has crystalized into a bill, which has been before several Con- 

 gresses, known as the Hepburn bill, because of its introduction 

 by Senator Hepburn. Several moneyed trade interests have 

 thus far prevented the passage of this national bill. 



Profiting by all this experience, the agricultural committee of 

 the Maine legislature of 1905 discussed this matter, and formu-. 

 lated a bill, which was introduced and after the customarj/ hear- 

 ing was reported unanimously and enacted. The text of the 

 law follows. 



Chapter 68 of the; Laws of 1905. 

 All Act to Regulate tJie Sale and Analysis of Food. 

 Sec I. It shall be unlawful for any person, persons or 

 corporation within this state to manufacture for sale, to sell, 

 or to ofifer or expose for sale any article of food which is 

 adulterated or misbranded within the meaning of this act. 

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