FoodNet

A manual of home-making

1919

Page 257

Presented as published in 1919. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
Among dealers the size^ of packages of canned good^ are designated by t^mis that refer to weight expressed in pounds. The common sizes or capacities are 1, 2, 2J^^ 3, and 10 pounds, and are briefly designated as Is, 2s, 2}/2S, 'As, and 10s, Doubtless at some time in the past the packages conttiined the weight of food indicated by the numerals assigned to the cans. But keen competition and the demanci for low-priced articles have gradu- ally shrunk the rapacity of the cans, wiiile the descriptive nu- merals have remained unehangetl. Thus a can known as No. 2 size may actually weigh 1 f)ound and G f)unces. A No, 3 can generally weighs about 2 jMJundH antl 8 ounces, A No * 10 can is above the average if it, weighs 8 pounds. It may be that no hann is done to distributors and largie buyers when every one understands the situation and no one is deceived. But the average retail buyer not only has not this knowledge of conditions but does not even know w^hether he is buying by weight or measure. To him caimed peas are graded as 25-cent cans, 22-cent cans, 20-cent cans and 18-eent cans. When he choosers the larger of two cans at the same price, he does not know whether it is the heavier can. If it is the heavier, he does not know until h«^ *»p?Ms it whether the extra w*eight bi due to an excess of htjuitl, or solidity of pack, or excc^ssive weight of tin can and solder. Such buying is of course absurdly ex* travagant. MARKETING FOR THE HOUSEHOLD 453 I 8 S I- S S 3 i s 3 » n s £ li e i 8 CO :<; o o 2 a 2 :« o ® • 8 ° ^^ J «^^ ^ i i i i s i i 8 8 8 00 :*: :*; i i I i d i C< M M Ol '■^ C< e i E 9 N -I 2 o 8 •8=2 If |H SS |£ |» •8 454 A MANUAL OF HOME-MAKING Suggestion for the consumer. In buying canned goodsy one should not choose the cans be- cause of the pictures on the labels. One should not hesitate to require of the dealer as much in- formation regarding the quantity and quahty of canned food as regarding a purchase of food in any other form. Influence should be u.scd to obtain legislation that will re- quire uniform standards for all packers in all states; uniform laws regarding laljeling for all packera in all states; and lal^ek declaring accurately the quality and quantity of the content^s of the can, and giving the weight of solid materiaU and tlie measure of liquid. References U. 8. Dept, of Agr., Fannors' Bull., 203. V, S. Dcpt. of Agr., Bur, of Chem,, Cirt!, 54, Analysts of Caimed Praa and Beonii. U. 8. Dept. of Commerce and Lubor: Onstis Bull, on Mimufiictunas, 1902. BuU, 61, Census of Monufacturea, 1905. i CHAPTER XIX FOOD FOR THE SICK By Flora Rose Only such directioni^ for feeding the sick will !>e given as may be of service in minor illnesses treated witliout tlie advice of a physician or a.s may aid in carrj^ing out the directions of a phy- sician in more serious illnesses. In all sickness the diet should be a matter of some considera- tion. A change from the comparative activity of health to the comparative passivity of most cases of sickness means in itself a readjustment of dietary habits* Many. disorders are caused partly l>y diet and are in turn niuch affected by dietarj- changes. Colds, constipation, indigcjition, and some case-s of fever are of tills nature.