15 



to it that the apjjles so prepared are entirely free of zinc, as the mere traces of this 

 ingredient -would cause them to be objected to by the health officials. One agent 

 has suggested to me that it would be advisable for the American firms to furnish 

 with each shipment an authenticated certificate that the ajiples have been analyzed 

 by an expert chemist and are absolutely free from zinc. 



A^'AJLYSES UNDEETAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT. 



In view of the information contained above, analyses were ordered, and 

 it was suggested that, in view of tlie restrictions referred to, an exam- 

 ination be made of the fruits intended for shipment to foreign x^orts, 

 and, further, that the State Department be requested to ask our consuls 

 in localities where trade in American evaporated apples was restricted 

 or prohibited, to j)rocure samples, esi^ecially of those fruits which were 

 condeuiiied for sanitary reasons, and transmit them to this Division for 

 analysis. 



In harmony with these recommendations, instructions were given to 

 secure samples of evaporated apples from exporters in Xew York City 

 and from the manufacturers, and a communication was directed to the 

 Secretary of State soliciting the cooperation of the consular officers, 

 which was cheerfully granted, and resulted in the receipt, in due 

 time, of samples of evaijorated American apples from Frankfort, Ger- 

 many, together with the following reports : 



RESTRirTioNs Against American Dried Apples in Germany. 



[Eeport by Consul-General Frank H. Mason at Frankfort.] 



In response to recent instructions of the Department, requiring the collection and 

 return of samples of dried American apples which have been condemned by the 

 health authorities in this district for their alleged contamination with salts of zinc, 

 I have to submit, with the accompanying samples, the following report, which will 

 explain in some degree the nature and scope of the restrictions which threaten, under 

 existing conditions, to practically exclude from German markets one of the important 

 minor food products of the United States. 



On the 14th of May, 1879, there was enacted in Germany a national law for the 

 protection of the peojjle from danger through the sale of adulterated, imi)ure, or 

 unwholesome articles of food, drink, or medicine. For the enforcement of this law 

 there is in each district or municipality a *^Gesundheits-Amt," or bureau of sanitary 

 police, which is charged with the inspection of all food materials, drinks, etc., that 

 are offered for sale within its jurisdiction. Under the scrutiny of these officials 

 evaporated apples of American origin have been from time to time during the past 

 two years condemned on the charge of containing a small admixture of malate of 

 zinc, presumably the result of contact, while drying, with trays made of perforated 

 zinc or galvanized-iron wire. Whether this contamination ever reaches such a de- 

 gree as to render the fruit actually unwholesome is a point concerning which the 

 German chemists, health officials, and importers have not yet been able to agree, 

 and the controversy has now reached an acute and somewhat i)erplexmg stage. 



la November^ 1892, an official declaration was issued by Dr. Zinmiermann, chief 

 health officer, and Dr. Loock, principal of the royal food inspection bureau for the 

 city of Diisseldorf, concerning the i)resence of zinc in American evaporated apples. 

 (See Exhibit A, page 19.) In his statement Inspector Loock states that he had at 

 various times analyzed samples of American evaporated apples, and had in most 

 cases found them free from any admixture of ziuc. Such as had been foimd con- 



