(F. I. D. 18.)
STATEMENT OF QUANTITY OF ADDED SUBSTANCE IN FOOD PRODUCTS.
LETTER OF IMPORTER.
April 21, 1905.
We note certain imported tins containing peas labeled "This tin contains 3/4 grain of copper as preservative." Permit us to inquire if the Department accepts this as correct branding.
In default, would your Department accept "Prepared with the addition of an infinitesimal amount of sulfate of copper not exceeding 3/4 grain per tin?"
Pardon us for asking these questions, our reason being that in thirty-five years' dealing in so-called greened peas by our senior, not a single case of injury has ever come to his knowledge, and the bare statement now required on the tins of "Colored" or "Prepared with sulfate of copper" would appear to the consumer as a new and hitherto unused ingredient fraught with possible danger, thus seriously injuring the commerce in this article and reducing the revenue derived from its importation.
We beg to assure you that we would not thus appear to insist upon qualifying the label, if we deemed the article injurious, our personal consumption, as well as that of numerous friends, supported by the report of the council of hygiene of Paris in 1889, appearing to us as absolute proof of the innocuity of vegetables where the chlorophyl is thus fixed.
DECISION OF DEPARTMENT.
April 26, 1905.
When a label with letters of proper size and legibility contains the statement that it [the food product] is colored with sulfate of copper we consider that the conditions required by law are fulfilled. This statement, however, should not be in any way connected with any other matters. If the importers desire to put additional labels on, stating "This tin contains 3/4 grain of copper," we should have no objections thereto. If, also, they should desire to add to the label required the phrase, "Prepared with the addition of an infinitesimal amount of sulfate of copper not exceeding 3/4 grain per tin," we could not reasonably object. This descriptive matter, however, should not be connected with the label required, namely, "COLORED WITH SULPHATE OF COPPER." The fact that the people of this country might object to eating goods thus marked is the strongest argument you could give showing the justice of the marking. The object of the law was to prevent deception being practiced upon our people.
If any added supplementary statement is shown to be false by the results of the analysis it would be considered then as a misbranding, and treated accordingly.
(F. I. D. 19.)
FALSE BRANDING OF MUSHROOMS.
LETTER OF IMPORTER.
April 25, 1905.
We acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 18th advising that a certain shipment of mushrooms consigned to us . . . are misbranded, for the reason that the tins contain nothing but stems and scraps from the cannery.
