Foods and Their Adulteration / Origin, Manufacture, and Composition of Food Products; Description of Common Adulterations, Food Standards, and National Food Laws and Regulations Papyras Classics

← Foods and Their Adulteration / Origin, Manufacture, and Composition of Food Products; Description of Common Adulterations, Food Standards, and National Food Laws and Regulations

Chapter 147

Food Inspection Decisions 27-30

(F. I. D. 27.) Admission of Sardines Boiled in Peanut Oil and Packed in Olive Oil.

As a result of the conference held between the Chief of the Bureau of Chemistry and the manufacturers and packers of sardines in Nantes, Bordeaux, and Paris, it appears that it is a practice somewhat common among the packers of sardines to boil the fish in peanut oil previous to packing. It is claimed by some manufacturers that this process improves the quality of the fish and also the color, and is a distinct advantage in the preparation of the fish in packing. Subsequent to the boiling in peanut oil the fish are so placed as to secure a perfect drainage, so that all oil which naturally would exude from the fish is separated therefrom. In this condition they are afterwards packed in pure olive oil. A small quantity of peanut oil remaining in the fish diffuses in this way with the olive oil to such an extent that the oil gives a distinct reaction for peanut oil.

Pending further investigations of this process and its necessity, inspectors at the different laboratories are permitted to admit sardines labeled “Packed in Olive Oil” in which a small quantity of peanut oil is found; provided the invoice be accompanied by a certificate, approved by the consul, to the effect that the oil used in packing the sardines was pure olive oil, and that previous to the packing the sardines had been treated in hot peanut oil as described above. The regulations, F. I. D. 5 c and F. I. D. 11, are therefore accordingly modified, permitting the importation of sardines labeled “Packed in Olive Oil” when the quantity of peanut oil therein is found not to exceed 5 percent, as nearly as can be determined with a reasonable toleration for difficulties of analysis, and variation in duplicates.

This amendment is of a provisional nature and will be in force until further investigations can be made and until further ordered.

Approved:
James Wilson,
Secretary of Agriculture.
Washington, D. C., September 23, 1905.

(F. I. D. 28.) Maximum Quantity of Sulfurous Acid in Wines.

As a result of a conference between the Chief of the Bureau of Chemistry and Professor Gayon and other members of the French committee of œnology and exporters of wines, held at Bordeaux, August 26, 1905, the following modifications of F. I. D. 13, issued March 1, 1905, are made:

It was learned from the French expert, Professor Gayon, who is the principal advisor of the committee of œnology, that steps have already been taken to prevent the excessive use of sulfur, which, it is admitted, in years past has been practiced at times in the preparation of French white wines. The quantities of sulfur which are now permitted to be burned are prescribed for each kind of wine in order to avoid any excessive use. It is believed that by these new regulations the wines which are prepared subsequently to the issue of the regulations of March 1, referred to above, namely, the wines of the vintage of 1905 and of subsequent vintages, will not contain a quantity of sulfurous acid in excess of the amounts specified in the regulations of F. I. D. 13. Wines prepared previous to these regulations, however, may still contain, even in the absence of notable quantities of sugar, more sulfurous acid than would be permissible under the existing provisional standards.

With the desire to meet the wishes of the French makers and exporters who are endeavoring now to diminish the quantity of sulfurous acid in white wines hereafter made, it is deemed advisable to modify the provisional regulations slightly to avoid as much as possible any retroactive intent. It is therefore prescribed, provisionally, in modification of F. I. D. 13, that wines imported into the United States from France or other countries, containing not to exceed 350 milligrams of sulfurous acid, may be admitted without respect to the quantity of sugar contained therein. There will also be permitted a tolerance of 20 milligrams per liter to cover the difference in different samples and the variations incident to duplicate analyses. This modification of F. I. D. 13 will not apply to the wines of the vintage of 1905 nor to succeeding vintages. To wines of these vintages the provisional standards provided in F. I. D. 13 will still apply until further orders.

Approved:
James Wilson,
Secretary of Agriculture.
Washington, D. C., September 23, 1905.

(F. I. D. 29.) Coloring Matters in Synthetic Foods.

The term synthetic food as herein used is applied to a food product made of a mixture of various other food products and not of itself possessed of any of the characteristics of a natural or uncompounded food. Such food products should bear some special name not indicative of natural origin, character, or quality. A class of products typifying such synthetic foods is the product known as candy or confection. It has been customary to use harmless artificial colors in such foods in preparing them for consumption. Such colors are not calculated to deceive or mislead, because the foods themselves do not represent any natural food product. The regulations of this Department applying to imported food products require that such products, when artificially colored, should bear a legend on the label to that effect. This regulation should be construed to apply only to food products which of themselves have a natural color and in which the use of artificial colors would tend to mislead or deceive the purchaser.

Until further orders synthetic food products, as described above, not having of themselves any natural color nor bearing any name which would indicate an origin relating to a food product of a definite color, may contain harmless coloring matter without notice on the label. This permission is not to be construed, however, in any way which would permit the use of coloring matter if the product by its name indicates a special origin. For instance, candies which are sold under the name of chocolates should not be permitted to carry a color imitating the natural color of chocolate, and this principle should apply to other confections bearing names of definite origin. The Department will not undertake to specify by name the colors which may be used further than to say that they must be of a harmless character, not injurious to health, and must comply with the laws and regulations of the countries from which the food products are imported.

Approved:
James Wilson,
Secretary of Agriculture.
Washington, D. C., September 27, 1905.

(F. I. D. 30.) the Use of Packages Made of Tin Plate, on Which Labels Have Been Printed for Preserved Vegetables, Etc., Ordered and Delivered to Manufacturers Prior to September 1, 1905.

From the investigations lately made by the Chief of the Bureau of Chemistry, it appears that in a few instances European manufacturers of preserved vegetables, intended for export to the United States, had provided a large number of packages made of tin, on which the labels had been printed previous to the manufacture of the tin cans. The printed matter can not be erased from the cans, nor can it be conveniently covered without destroying the artistic appearance of the packages. These tin cans had been ordered and delivered to the manufacturers before the publication of F. I. D. 26, requiring the presence of preservatives, coloring matters, etc., to be indicated upon the original label and not attached by means of pasters subsequent to September 1, 1905. In many cases considerable expense has been incurred by the manufacturers in the purchase of these tin cans with the labels printed thereon.

Inasmuch as these packages were purchased in good faith and were not intended to disregard the regulations of the law relating to imported food products, permission will be given to use them in packing preserved vegetables for the season of 1906 on the following conditions:

1. That the tin cans in the possession of manufacturers shall have been ordered and delivered previous to September 1, 1905.

2. That the manufacturer shall make a statement before the consul in each case of the number of such packages which he had on hand at the date mentioned.

3. That the manufacturer shall attach a special paster, in a conspicuous place on the label, in such a way as to make it practically irremovable, indicating the presence of the preservative, coloring matter, etc., which may have been used in the preparation of the contents of the package, by the use of type not smaller than long primer capitals, as shown in F. I. D. 6, and submit samples thereof to this Department prior to shipment.

4. That these packages already on hand may be used for the crop of 1906, but not for a longer period.

5. That the importation of these packages into the United States under the regulations above mentioned shall not continue longer than May 1, 1907.

Approved:
James Wilson,
Secretary of Agriculture.
Washington, D. C., September 29, 1905.

F. I. D. 31.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY,
H. W. WILEY, Chief of Bureau.