REPORTS OF GENERAL INSPECTION. HON. ELLIOT O. Grosvenor, State Dairy and Food Commissioner: SIR-In compliance with the requirement of the law, I herewith submit a report of work performed by me during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1900: My field of inspection during the year has been confined mostly to the western part of the State, comprising the counties of Emmet, Charlevoix, Antrim, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Grand Traverse, Benzie, Manistee, Wexford, Mason, Lake, Osceola, Mecosta, Oceana, Newago, Montcalm, Muskegon, Kent, Ottawa, Allegan, Barry, Eaton, Van Buren and Cass25 in all. I have endeavored to inspect the majority of the stores in these counties at least twice during the year, or, in other words, have made my inspections where they would in my judgment be of the greatest benefit. I find that manufacturers and jobbers have generally learned that in order to do business in this State, they must sell goods that meet the requirements of our food laws. In most all cases, where the retail merchant finds he cannot trust his regular jobber to furnish him with goods that meet the requirements of the law, he very soon turns him down and selects one he can trust. Department monthly bulletins are so generally distributed, there are but few merchants today who are not fairly well posted regarding the requirements of the food law. In recent inspections I found grocers far away from any railroad, in fact back in the woods, whose stocks have never before been inspected, were free from adulterated or even improperly labeled goods, showing careful buying on the part of the retailer and a due regard for the law by the jobber in whatever portion of the State he may sell. Many cities and towns in my second inspection have shown a gain in the number of stores without food adulterations, as high as 80 per cent. In quite a few towns in the last year I have been compelled to mark all stores O. K., finding nothing wrong. I fail to find a single merchant who does not speak of this law in the highest terms and of the efficient manner in which it has been enforced. Not only are the consumers getting benefit greater than they really know of, but dealers are placed upon a more even plane, doing business upon business principles, and not on cut rate prices, injuring themselves and defrauding their trade with adulterated articles. There are few jobbers today who dare encroach upon this territory with adulterated goods, yet there are some seemingly always willing to take chances. Every merchant appreciates what this Department has done, and the changes that have been brought about in the sale of impure and injurious food products to that of pure and healthful. Standing in the lead of all the pure food states, we must not forget there never was a law that could be enforced to the letter. Violations will be committed so long as there are dishonest people in the world. I have called upon and inspected 770 grocery stores, made quite a number of special visits and investigations where requests have been made, and had in charge and attended to ten court cases. In my inspections I have kept an accurate account of all goods found adulterated or mislabeled that I have condemned, the cost of which would amount to quite a figure if it were summed up. I have taken up 141 samples which were forwarded to the State Analyst, R. E. Doolittle, for analyses. I feel confident in stating to you, that in the western part of the State 5 per cent will more than cover the adulterated goods offered for sale. Cream of tartar, mustard, and spices, are nearly all pure. Imitation jellies are now labeled and sold for what they really are, and without artificial coloring. Mineral acid vinegar is entirely off the market. Flavoring extracts are generally pure and made from the fruit or bean, imitations having been condemned and taken off sale. And so it can be said of all food products. This condition of affairs can be kept up, and even improved, but the same diligent work will have to be performed, thorough and competent inspections continued, and prosecutions made, or the State will soon be flooded with adulterated goods again. Yours respectfully, JOHN R. BENNETT, Inspector. Lansing, June 30, 1900. |