QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON GOVERNMENT INSPECTION 19 



PMA 14557 



Figure 13. — A Department of Agriculture inspector at a plant under continuous 

 inspection inspects citrus juice for sugar content and distills a sample of juice 

 to determine the oil content. 



Why was this service started? 



In this country there is no Federal law that regulates sanitary opera- 

 tions in canneries. Some States have their own laws, but some do not. 

 This service was started as an experiment at the request of consumers 

 and interested canners. The purpose was to ascertain the reaction of 

 consumers and industry to products packed under strictly sanitary 

 conditions. 



When was the service started? 



The service was conducted in one plant during the canning season 

 of 1939. The number of plants using this service has increased 

 steadily since that year. 



Why was the service first considered an "experiment"? 



The Department wished first to find out if consumers and the 

 industry would react favorably to this program before it was made 

 a permanent service. The Department is constantly seeking ways to 

 assist in marketing agricultural products more satisfactorily, and con- 

 tinuous inspection was introduced as one way to do this. As consumers 

 develop a more wholesome regard for processed products as a result 



