94 MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. I909. 



GELATINE. 



Samples of the leading brands of gelatine, simple and com- 

 pounded, that were upon the Maine market were collected in 

 June. The chief results of the examinations are given in the 

 table which follows. As was to be expected there was a great 

 difference in the price per ounce, although it is to be remembered 

 that where they contain sugar that they will not make nearly 

 as much of the product ready for the table as a like amount of 

 gelatine free from sugar. Nitrogen was determined in the 

 samples which did not contain sugar or much of other foreign 

 materials. Chemically pure and water free gelatine carries about 

 18.3 per cent nitrogen. The percentage of nitrogen (see table) 

 is a reasonable measure as to the strength. Of course, the adding 

 of any foreign material such as sugar, acid or flavoring extracts 

 will all tend to reduce the percentage of nitrogen and the jelly 

 making power of the gelatine. Air dried gelatine will always 

 carry some water and naturally the greater the percentage of 

 water the lower the percentage of nitrogen. 



in the case of flavoring materials, the purity of the flavoring 

 extracts were not tested. It is probable that in «5uch materials 

 as strawberry, wild cherry, etc., that the flavors are imitation 

 and not fruit flavors. The coloring matters were for the most 

 part either vegetable or the permissible coal tar colors. In the 

 case of samples which are marked with double asterisks (**) 

 in the table, we were unable to identify the dye that was used, 

 although they were not coal tar colors. 



In the case of three samples it was found necessary to appoint 

 hearings. The notes given below were too long to be included 

 under "Remarks" in the table. 



8320. Misbranded by using word "Concentrated" also 

 marked "Plain" when it contains sugar. Hearing was 

 appointed. Company explained that word "Plain" was used to 

 distinguish from their flavored and that the word "Concen- 

 trated" did not refer to nitrogen content but to the amount of 

 gelatine required to make a given amount of product ready for 

 the table.. Both will be corrected on new labels for all goods 

 to. be shipped. Case not prosecuted. 



