OFFICIAL inspe;ctions. 17 



MiSBRANDFD Soda. 



One or two cases were discovered in which goods flavorerl 

 with imitation flavors and colored artificially were labeled as 

 though the goods were real and not imitation. For example, 

 goods marked "blood orange" were found upon examination 

 to be artificially flavored- and colored with a coal tar dye. One 

 case which seemed particularly flagrant was prosecuted and a 

 fine of $25 imposed. The other case of this kind was con- 

 nected with a saccharin case and was settled in connection with 

 the prosecution of that case. It is possible to make an orange 

 soda water from the real orange extract and containing the 

 natural color and flavor, and in the labeling sharp distinction 

 should be made between these goods and goods which imitate 

 them by means of synthetic flavors and coal tar dyes. 



Artificiai, CoIvORS. 



As was stated at the beginning of this discussion, a larger 

 proportion of the manufacturers than last year were found 

 to be using the seven permitted coal tar dyes for this work. In 

 all cases where other than the permitted dyes were used care- 

 ful examination was made of the goods in order to ascertain 

 if any poisonous or deleterious materials were present. In the 

 goods examined no poisons were found and no prosecutions 

 were made in these cases. It is earnestly recommended, how- 

 ever, that wherever coal tar colors are used in bottled sodas 

 only one, or a mixture, of the seven permitted dyes be used. 

 These seven permitted dyes are made expressly for use in foods 

 and during the process of manufacture all poisonous materials 

 are carefully excluded. On the other ,hand there are hundreds 

 of coal tar dyes on the market which are made not particularly 

 for food work and which do contain traces of arsenic, or which 

 have been found to be poisonous in themselves. While the cer- 

 tified colors may be slightly more expensive than the uncertified 

 ones still the difiference is so trifling that with the small amount 

 necessary for the coloring of bottled sodas the difference in 

 price is negligible. It is, perhaps, unnecessary to state that 

 should poisonous colors be found in food products prose- 

 cution would without hesitation be made. 



