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object in adding a colouring matter to spinach is not at first obvious,
for the vegetable contains a large amount of colouring naturally;
apparently the object is to produce a uniform colour. One of the
Magistrates pointed out that as fresh spinach was obtainable in London
all the year round, there is no occasion to import this tinned stuff, but
apparently the cooks in some of the hotels, clubs, and restaurants find
it saves them trouble to use tinned vegetables, even in summer time.
In one instance (see below) a notice was affixed to the tin, stating that
a small quantity of sulphate of copper had been added in order to retain
the colour; but where an article of food is mixed with an ingredient
injurious to health, a label is no protection.
Food Standards.—In several of the American States laws have
been passed requiring various articles of food to conform to certain
standards, and the State purchases samples of articles and publishes
the analysis with the manufacturers' name, so that retail dealers may
know what they may safely purchase. Since those Acts have been
passed, a marked improvement has taken place in the grade of stock.
Shortly, the requirements are:—
"All foods not essentially mixtures must contain no other added
substances, the obvious use of which is to adulterate, cheapen,
dilute, misrepresent, or otherwise modify the true character
of the article in question. The word 'Compound' is not
recognised as sufficient. Notice of the character of a mixture,
except in the case of goods sold to the consumer in the original
passage, and bearing a true formula on the front in type of a
settled size. The addition of foreign colouring matter of any
kind whatever, or the use of any preserving materials (except
sugar, salt, vinegar, spices, saltpetre, or wood smoke) is prohibited,
this regardless of whether the fact of such addition
may be stated on the label."
Each month a bulletin is issued, and contains, amongst other things,
a list of goods examined during the month.
Such an Act would be of considerable benefit here. At present it
is difficult for a shopkeeper to know what adulterant, if any, is contained
in the numerous tinned and bottled goods which he requires to keep.
Were such a system adopted in this country, the Local Government
Board, and other Government Departments having health matters
under their care, might combine to issue a monthly bulletin, in which
copies of new "Orders," memoranda and warnings, which find little
publicity even amongst those directly interested in them, might appear,
together with reports on the classes of foods sold in sealed bottles or
tins which dealers cannot examine directly themselves.