14 



TWENTY-EIGHTH FRUIT-GROWERS' CONVENTION. 



pass." There it ended. I had anticipated that this appropriation 

 would be made, and wrote fully to the Governor the object and purpose 

 of such an investigation that he might not veto it. I am happy to state 

 that I found the Governor in full accord with the importance of this 

 work. 



Food Adulteration. — I have called the attention of fruit-growers to 

 this subject at every Convention for many years past. So much has 

 been said that it is almost worn threadbare. Very urgent resolutions 

 have been passed, but, like the parasite question, it has not received the 

 serious consideration of our lawmakers. Bill No. 293, amending Sec- 

 tion 382 of the Penal Code, relating to adulterated foods, drinks, and 

 drugs, was decisive, but no provision made to have violators prosecuted. 

 I had hoped that the last Congress would do something to protect 

 producers and consumers from the villainous substances put on the 

 market under false labels. A most excellent bill passed the House of 

 Representatives and went to the Senate committee. Its passage was 

 recommended by a unanimous vote. I herewith present some of the 

 reasons given by the Senate committee why the bill should become the 

 law of the land : 



During the last quarter of the century the growth of commercial frauds, of adultera- 

 tions in foods and dairy products, and in drugs and liquors, has become so alarming 

 that both the State and Federal Governments have been called upon for legislation to 

 protect the public health from harmful and deleterious foods and the people from 

 frauds and cheats. 



To one unacquainted with commercial dishonesty the facts established by the hearings 

 before the Senate and House committees and brought to light by the zealous efforts and 

 labors of the Agricultural Department are appalling. There is scarcely a known com- 

 modity of food which has not been seized upon by unscrupulous manufacturers and 

 dealers and adulterated to an extent sufficient to compete with and undersell the 

 genuine article. 



Senate Document No. 181, Fifty-seventh Congress, prepared at the request of this 

 committee by the Agricultural Department, will show the most common articles of con- 

 sumption in the United States which are adulterated, the adulterants commonly used, 

 the extent thereof as shown by examinations, and other data in reference thereto. Our 

 canned meats are often a guess ; the fat of our milks and cheeses may be extracted ; our 

 butter deodorized and colored by fats and greases; the cream may be extracted from 

 the milk which makes our cheese and lard substituted, and our lard in turn be com- 

 posed of beef stearin or cotton-seed oil, while the latter comes to our table labeled "pure 

 olive oil." Colored glucose does enormous duty in supplying the demand for molasses, 

 syrups, and honeys. Probably more glucose is sold in one year for "pure Vermont 

 maple syrup," than that State produces in ten years. 



This staple article, pure and wholesome in itself, is the most clever impersonator of 

 all food products. With a little coloring and a little flavoring added it is convertible 

 into honey; with a dash of darker coloring matter and another flavoring material it is 

 instantly converted into any kind of fruit jelly or jam. Copper mines furnish the 

 material for preserving the natural color of canned vegetables, and which enters into 

 many of our preserves. Asparagus is bleached with sulphates. Cocoas and chocolates 

 are manufactured from wheat, corn, rice, potatoes, cocoa husks, and low-grade sugars- 

 Pepper, cinnamons, allspice, cloves, ginger, nutmegs, and mustards, when ground, are 

 manufactured from almost any cereal or flour. Pure vinegar is extremely scarce. 

 Almost any brand of wine is drawn from the same tank and priced in the market 

 according to the value of the wine it is colored to imitate. 



