(F. I. D. 64.)
LABELING OF SARDINES.
Many inquiries have been made of this Department respecting the extent to which the term "sardine" can be used in food products entering into foreign or interstate commerce. The question of the proper labeling of fish of this kind was submitted by the Department to the Department of Commerce and Labor, Bureau of Fisheries. After reviewing the nomenclature and trade practices the Department of Commerce and Labor reached the following conclusion:
Commercially the name sardine has come to signify any small, canned, clupeoid fish;
and the methods of preparation are so various that it is impossible to establish any absolute
standard of quality. It appears to this Department that the purposes of the pure-food law
will be carried out and the public fully protected if all sardines bear labels showing the place
where produced and the nature of the ingredients used in preserving or flavoring the fish.
In harmony with the opinion of the experts of the Bureau of Fisheries, the Department
of Agriculture holds that the term "sardine" may be applied to any small fish described
above, and that the name "sardine" should be accompanied with the name of the country
or State in which the fish are taken and prepared, and with a statement of the nature of the
ingredients used in preserving or flavoring the fish.
It is held that a small fish of the clupeoid family, caught upon or near the shores of and packed in oil in Norway, or smoked and packed in oil, is properly labeled with the phrase "Norwegian Sardines in Oil," or "Norwegian Smoked Sardines in Oil," the nature of the oil being designated. In like manner a small fish of the clupeoid faimily caught upon or near the shores of and packed in France may be called "French Sardines in Oil," the nature of the oil being specified. Following the same practice, a fish of the clupeoid family caught on or near the shores of and packed in the United States may be labeled "American Sardines Packed in Oil," or "Maine Sardines Packed in Oil," or be given some similar appellation, the nature of the oil being stated. It is suggested that the name of the particular fish to which the term sardine is to be applied should also be placed upon the label—for example, "Pilchard," "Herring," etc.
James Wilson,
Secretary of Agriculture.
Washington, D. C., March 29, 1907.
LIST OF FOOD INSPECTION DECISIONS.
F. I. D. 1-39 practically concern imported foods only and were not issued under the food and drugs act, June 30, 1906.
{ 40. Filing Guaranty.
F. I. D. { 41. Approval of Labels.
{ 42. Mixing Flours.
{ 43. Relabeling of Goods on Hand.
F. I. D. { 44. Scope and Purpose of Food Inspection Decisions.
{ 45. Blended Whiskies.
{ 46. Fictitious Firm Names; also F. I. D. 46, as amended.
F. I. D. { 47. Flavoring Extracts.
{ 48. Substances Used in the Preparation of Foods.
