For a fuller discussion of the basis of pure food legislation and the essential features of the United States laws see Sher- man's '^ Food Products," from which a part of the summary here given is drawn. The modem cold storage plant is of immense service in keeping food from the season of abimdance to that of scar- city, but it may prove worse than useless if improperly managed. State and federal laws must control the manage- ment, and government inspection must be thorough. Cold storage would be a benefit to all under proper conditions of management, and the prices of many foods would be evenly adjusted by the maintenance of a steady supply. Many states now have laws regulating cold storage plants and there is every reason to hope that the abuses which have THE COST AND PURCHASING OF FOOD 291 sometimes existed will be eliminated and the usefulness of cold storage extended. We may feel that the progress of the pure food movement has been most satisfactory, even though much more remains to be done. The states generally have either enacted new food laws, or revised their laws following the national law. Under the national law over 2000 prosecutions have already (1913) been decided- in favor of the government. Congress has passed an even more stringent law for meat inspection supplementary to the Pure Food Law with ample appropriation for its enforcement. Moreover, in 1913, the Secretary of Agriculture appointed outside experts to in- spect meat-packing establishments throughout the country. This inspection is to check up the regular work being done by the Bureau of Animal Industry. The enforcing of federal and state laws has already largely stopped the misbranding of package foods as to weight or measm-e, cheap substitutions, the removal of valuable in- gredients, and the sale of decomposed or tainted food derived from diseased animals. Remember that abuses can be kept down to any extent that we are willing to pay for. Tax- payers must appropriate money to pay for inspection, for laws, no matter how good, will not insure pure food unless carried out faithfully by an adequate number of specially trained inspectors. In the face of all these difficulties we must not be frightened into that state of mind where danger seems to lurk in every mouthful. We must use caution and common sense in our bujdng, and earnestly support every good movement for bettering conditions. There is a certain difference in quality even at a first class dealer's that one must learn to distinguish. One can of peaches will cost more than another, because the peaches are 292 FOODS AND HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT larger. If it is only this, and there is only a slight difference in flavor in favor of the more costly, buy the cheaper by all means. A fancy brand of imported preserves brings a fancy price which it is not worth while to pay. We have to learn to distinguish between poor and good quality, on the one hand, and between good and what may be called " fancy," on the other. We should demand the good, but most of us cannot afford the " fancy."

AI-modernized reading of the original text

For a fuller discussion of the basis of pure food legislation and the essential features of the United States laws see Sherman's '^ Food Products," from which a part of the summary here given is drawn. The modem cold storage plant is of immense service in keeping food from the season of abundance to that of scarcity, but it may prove worse than useless if improperly managed. State and federal laws must control the management, and government inspection must be thorough. Cold storage would be a benefit to all under proper conditions of management, and the prices of many foods would be evenly adjusted by the maintenance of a steady supply. Many states now have laws regulating cold storage plants and there is every reason to hope that the abuses which have sometimes existed will be eliminated and the usefulness of cold storage extended. We may feel that the progress of the pure food movement has been most satisfactory, even though much more remains to be done. The states generally have either enacted new food laws, or revised their laws following the national law. Under the national law over 2000 prosecutions have already (1913) been decided- in favor of the government. Congress has passed an even more stringent law for meat inspection supplementary to the Pure Food Law with ample appropriation for its enforcement. Moreover, in 1913, the Secretary of Agriculture appointed outside experts to inspect meat-packing establishments throughout the country. This inspection is to check up the regular work being done by the Bureau of Animal Industry. The enforcing of federal and state laws has already largely stopped the misbranding of package foods as to weight or measure, cheap substitutions, the removal of valuable ingredients, and the sale of decomposed or tainted food derived from diseased animals. Remember that abuses can be kept down to any extent that we are willing to pay for. Taxpayers must appropriate money to pay for inspection, for laws, no matter how good, will not insure pure food unless carried out faithfully by an adequate number of specially trained inspectors. In the face of all these difficulties we must not be frightened into that state of mind where danger seems to lurk in every mouthful. We must use caution and common sense in our buying, and earnestly support every good movement for bettering conditions. There is a certain difference in quality even at a first class dealer's that one must learn to distinguish. One can of peaches will cost more than another, because the peaches are larger. If it is only this, and there is only a slight difference in flavor in favor of the more costly, buy the cheaper by all means. A fancy brand of imported preserves brings a fancy price which it is not worth while to pay. We have to learn to distinguish between poor and good quality, on the one hand, and between good and what may be called " fancy," on the other. We should demand the good, but most of us cannot afford the " fancy."

Foods and household management