132 Maine; agricui.turai, kxpe;rime;nt station. 1911. 



Drug Store;s. 

 The sanitary condition of the drug stores is, almost without 

 an exception, excellent. The toilet facilities of some could be 

 improved with little expense, and in a few instances the display 

 of confectionery could be better protected. 



Marking of* Compounds and Imitations. 



The inspectors have endeavored to ascertain to what extent 

 dealers were informing their customers of the presence in foods 

 of preservatives and chemicals and as to the nature of com- 

 pounds and imitations. By present rulings, a small amount of 

 alum in pickles is legitimate if its presence is plainly declared. 

 Retail packages of pickles containing alum, sold from bulk 

 should carry a plain statement of the presence of that chemical. 

 Inquiries made and analysis of samples purchased indicate that 

 this ruling is often disregarded. Several cases of this kind are 

 now being considered and it is probable that prosecutions will 

 follow. Similarly retail packages of compound lard should be 

 sold as such, mixtures of glucose and molasses should never be 

 sold as molasses, sausage containing cereal or cereal and water 

 should never be sold as sausage and each of the above imitations 

 or compounds should be plainly marked when sold with a state- 

 ment of the exact nature of the goods. This applies not only 

 to the above articles but also in general to all foods which are 

 not exactly what they appear to be. 



In short this regulation means that any goods of this class, 

 containing chemicals or preservatives, or made in imitation of, 

 or, as substitutes for other things must be plainly marked at 

 all times so that customers may tell exactly what they are, not 

 only when the goods come from the manufacturer or jobber, 

 but -while they are exposed for sale and when they are delivered 

 in retail packages. 



Analyses op Foods. 

 During the year hundreds of analyses of foods have been 

 made, including the examination of spices, extracts, pickles, 

 ketchups, jams, jellies, preserves, honey, salt, molasses, ice 

 cream, bottled sodas, clams and oysters, besides occasional 

 determinations on other miscellaneous samples. The reports 

 on a part of these samples have already been published and 

 others will soon follow. 



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