OFFICIAI, INSPECTION l6. 163 



a bottle of catchup which, according to the label, contained i-io 

 of I per cent of benzoate of soda. On analysis these goods 

 were found to contain 2-10 of i per cent of benzoate of soda 

 or twice as much as was declared on the label. The Maine 

 dealer established a written guaranty from the manufacturers 

 and the matter was accordingly taken up with them Their 

 explanation of the presence of the excess of preservatives was 

 in brief, as follows :-the lot which we sampled was part of the 

 catchup which they made in the fall and winter of 1907- 1907 

 was a poor tomato year and many of the tomatoes which they 

 received were in "very poor condition;" consequently the 

 tomato pulp, which is stored in barrels and preserved with 

 benzoate soda until they are ready to make the catchup, was 

 more likely to spoil than on years when the stock was better 

 and naturally more preservative had to be added to keep this 

 half-decayed pulp than would be needed for healthy pulp 

 Accordingly, when they came to prepare the catchup and diluted 

 the pulp with the ordinary amount of other ingredients there 

 was more than the usual i-io of i per cent of bezoate of soda 

 m the finished product. Does this look as if the addition of 

 artificial preservatives to food was done solely out of considera- 

 tion to the public, in order that the goods might not spoil on the 

 hands of the consumer if he did not use them immediately after 

 they are opened ? 



Now the law, while it does not prohibit the use of bezoate of 

 soda, does require that when used its presence and amount must 

 be stated on the label of foods to which it has been added 

 Although mislabeling as to amount may occur, almost all aoods 

 are correctly labeled as regards the statement of the pre^'sence 

 of benzoate of soda and it is for the consumer to decide whether 

 he will use goods put up in such a manner that use of an artifi- 

 cial preservative is necessary. The only way for the consumer 

 to protect himself is to read the labels, not onlv the large red 

 capitals on the gold background but the fine print in the incon- 

 spicuous corners as well, and govern himself accordingly. 



