(1) That in the invoice and accompanying declaration it is specifically stated that the substance in question is to be devoted solely to technical use.
(2) That the substance be so denatured, either by natural or artificial means, as to render it unfit for consumption as human food.
This Department reserves the right to determine in any given case whether or not the denaturing process is of a character which would render it impracticable to recover the article in a form suitable for consumption as human food. When substances ordinarily food products are presented hereafter for import into this country with the invoice and declaration above mentioned and in the denatured condition specified, they will not be detained for inspection by this Department longer than is necessary to ascertain the above facts. A denaturing process will be held to be valid provided it so changes the taste of the food product as to make it impossible for it to be consumed for food purposes, as, for instance, by the addition of an excessive quantity of common salt or other denaturing agent which would impart a taste of such a character as to cause it to be rejected by any one attempting to consume it.
This decision shall not be considered in any way to change the opinion of this Department with reference to food products offered as such for importation and afterwards declared to be intended for technical purposes, as stated in F. I. D. 25, of June 21, 1905.
Approved:
James Wilson,
Secretary of Agriculture.
Washington, D. C., January 18, 1906.
F. I. D. 37-38.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY,
H. W. WILEY, Chief of Bureau.
FOOD INSPECTION DECISIONS 37-38.
(F. I. D. 37.)
LABELING OF CHOCOLATES.
The question of the proper marking of plain or bitter chocolates and sweet chocolates has arisen on several occasions in the inspection of imported food products, and, after full investigation of all the facts of the case and the relations of previous decisions thereto, it appears that the following points are established:
1. Chocolate, plain or bitter, is imported for cooking and not for directly edible purposes.
2. Sweet chocolates are imported practically as a candy or confection.
This question is covered to a certain extent in F. I. D. 26, section 8, which reads as follows:
8. The addition of the ordinary condimental substances to a food product, such as
sugar, vinegar, salt, spices, and wood smoke, may be practiced without any notice to this
effect appearing upon the label.
