394 



Imitation Butter Legislation. 



on the substance itself, whether packed in mass, in box or tub, 

 or in the form of prints, bricks, or rolls. The same words 

 on a printed notice are to be affixed to every manufacturer's 

 package " in plain gothic letters at least three-eighths inch 

 square." There is also to be attached to every original package a 

 Government revenue stamp on which the same words appear in- 

 conspicuous type. This stamp bears the name of the State 

 in which the renovated butter was made, the registered number 

 of the factory, the number of the revenue district, and a date 

 closely approximating that of manufacture. These stamps and 

 labels are protected by strict laws from removal, obliteration, 

 and alteration. If the contents of the manufacturer's stamped 

 package is divided into parts or parcels, all interior wrappings 

 and packages must be likewise conspicuously marked " Reno- 

 vated Butter." 



The law and regulations provide that renovated butter shall 

 be absolutely free from fat other than butter-fat, and from all 

 substances foreign to natural butter, and that its moisture 

 content shall be less than 16 per cent. 



Although the Government of the United States does not 

 attempt to inspect and test every lot of renovated butter made, 

 or every shipment abroad, it is intended that the law shall be 

 so administered that all such butter, duly marked and stamped, 

 may be presumed to be unadulterated and free from excess of 

 water, and that all renovated butter hereafter exported shall 

 leave the country with the marks, stamps, and labels described, 

 thus clearly indicating its true grade or character. So long as 

 the stamps remain upon the packages the time and place of 

 manufacture can be fixed ; and, should adulteration or illegal 

 condition be proved, the manufacturer will be held responsible 

 by the United States Government. 



Large quantities of renovated, or " process," butter have been 

 exported from the United States in recent years to Great 

 Britain and other countries. It has often occurred that this 

 grade of butter has been sold as " dairy," or " creamery," butter. 

 This kind of deception has been detrimental to the reputa- 

 tion of American creamery butter and the best dairy interests 

 of that country. The new law aims at preventing such mis- 

 representation, and insuring the commercial identity of the 



