FOOD AND DRUG INSPECTION. 35 



SUGAR VINEGARS. 



The results of the analyses of sugar and sirup vinegars are 

 given on page 42. Although a few samples of sugar vinegars 

 were found in the State, it is doubtful if these sugar vinegars 

 are commonly sold to the consumer as a sugar or sirup vinegar. 

 Made as they are from low grade refuse sugar products, they 

 have sufficient color to resemble cider vinegar and consequently 

 they can be lawfully sold without being labeled artificially col- 

 ored. Some of these vinegars are made directly from a low 

 grade brown sugar; others are made from sugar house refuse 

 sirups. In the case of the sirup vinegars they will of necessity 

 carry much of the residual products of the sugar cane so they 

 are quite heavily loaded with chlorides, sulphates and lime salts. 

 They probably can be produced at a lower price than cider vine- 

 gar and they retail at about the same price. While there is 

 nothing objectionable in the use of these vinegars or of distilled 

 vinegars, there is little reason to believe that the retail purchaser 

 would buy them if, in the most cases, he did not suppose that 

 he was obtaining cider vinegar. 



DISTILLED VINEGARS. 



The table on pages 43 to 46 shows the analyses of a large num- 

 ber of distilled vinegars of various kinds that were found on sale 

 in Maine. Most of these vinegars as sold were properly labeled. 

 The uncolored vinegars are in more or less demand for pickling 

 purposes but are rarely used on the table. The colored distilled 

 vinegars are usually retailed at a somewhat lower price than a 

 strictly pure cider vinegar. It is probable, however, that most 

 of the consumers suppose that they are getting cider vinegar. 



As will be noted there were a few instances in which the dis- 

 tilled vinegars were below strength. These vinegars were either 

 removed from sale or the guaranties changed to accord with 

 fact. After investigation it was decided not to prosecute these 

 offenses. The firms making these goods were warned and have 

 promised to strictly follow the requirements of the law in the 

 future. 



