OFiflCIAL INSPECTION 8. II 



Opinion of the Board of Food and Drug Inspection, the U. S. 

 Secretar}' of Agriculture has reached the decision that "The 

 character of the adulteration is such that no statement upon the 

 label will bring bleached flour within the law ; and that such 

 flour cannot legally be made or sold in the District of Columbia 

 or in the territories ; or be transported or sold in interstate com- 

 merce." Because of the extent of the bleaching process and of 

 the immense quantity of bleached flour on hand or in the process 

 of manufacture, the U. S. Department of Agriculture will not 

 make pros^utions against its manufacture and sale until about 

 July I, 1909. 



As there is no bleached flour manufactured in Maine, this 

 decision by the U. S. Department of Agriculture will doubtless 

 result in the stopping of the sale of flour bleached with nitrogen 

 peroxide in Maine without recourse to the Maine law. 



Benzoate Oe Soda. 



The use of benzoate of soda as a preservative in foods is for 

 the present allowed in interstate trade under the National food 

 and drug law, and is also permitted in !\laine. It may be 

 used in quantities not to exceed i-io of one per cent and in 

 those foods in which generally heretofore it has been used. 

 The addition of benzoate of soda shall be plainly stated upon 

 the label of each package of food. No other preservatives or 

 chemicals can be lawfully used under any circumstances. 



Sirui)S containing benzoate of soda may be used in soda 

 fountains provided a conspicuous sign is shown stating that 

 fact. Sirups containing benzoate of soda may be used in bot- 

 tled sodas provided the fact is stated on the label. 



It is now possible to obtain pure fruit sirups that arc put up 

 without the use of preservatives of any kind. It will doubtless 

 require greater care on the part of the retailer to keep these 

 sirups in good condition in the foiuitain, but the consumer has 

 the right to insist ujxin ^ucli care and cleanliness as is needed 

 to make it practicable to use sirups free from cliemicals. 



Si'LiMU'R DioxiDi-: IX Foons. 

 For the present the IT. S. Secretary of Agriculture is allow- 

 ing, mnlcr the National Food and Drug .Act. sulj^lmr dioxide to 



