OCR Text |
Show PURE FOOD LAW IN DANGER. The first compilation of expressions of prominent physicians iu regard to the use of benzoate of soda in ketchup, preserves, dairy products, meat products, pro-ducts, etc., according to a Washington authority, shows that while in view of the Remsen board's experiments some are not prepared to say that small quantities of the drug may not be used without harmful effect upon healthy persons, the opinion is unanimous that no benefit to the consumer can be had from taking it into the system in any quantity whatever. Coupled with this negative opinion is the unanimous conclusion con-clusion that in the case of children J.nd invalids, with which classes the physicians are most concerned, the effect of chemically preserved foods cannot but be injurious. Those who have given the subject deepest consideration believe that the upsetting of the conclusions reached by the department of agriculture that the use of benzoate of soda should be prohibited, is but tho entering wedge to the overturning or emasculating of the pure food law. Experiments are now being made by the Remsen board with ttio sulphuret-tiug sulphuret-tiug of fruits, with the probabilities favoring fa-voring a conclusion that in this case also the department of agriculture went astray and the possibility of a fi-ture ruling permitting the practice. Behind these two comes borax and for-moldohydc, for-moldohydc, and already tentative "feelers" are being sent out to the effect that after all iTiere is a chance that borax has boon unjustly condemned con-demned and its use should bo permitted. per-mitted. These facts give ground to the suspicion sus-picion that a concerted movement is on foot to undo the good done and to rettore conditions, as far as preserva- i tives are concerned, to what they were ! before the passage of the natfon.il i pure food law. The Association or State and . National Na-tional Dairy and Food departments, which fought so hard for the pure food law. Is graely concerned about these insidious attacks upon this statute, and at its meeting in August at Denver, Colo., will consider ways and means to preservo the law in its Integrity and entirety. |