REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON CHEESE, OF THE NEW YORK PRODUCE EXCHANGE, IN RELATION TO " FILLED CHEESE." THE LIVERPOOL PROVISION TRADE ASSOCIATION AND EXCHANGE COMPANY, LIMITED. LIVERPOOL, January 8th, 1890. DEAR SIR: The directors of this association respectfully wish to draw the attention of your government to the exportation from the United States to the United Kingdom of what is termed "filled cheese." This article is a compound of skim milk and grease, such as old butter, oleomargarine, or lard, the favorite ingredient being at present stale butter, on account of the belief of the manufacturers that they can thus defy the analyst. My directors believe that this product is exceedingly harmful to the dairy farmers of your country. It is not the natural product of the cow, known as cheese. It is a well known fact that, for the past five years, since this fraud has been practiced, the price of pure cheese, instead of advancing in the spring months, has steadily declined. This product is neither wholesome nor palatable, but is injurious to the American cheese trade, as it curtails consumption of the pure article, disgusting the community with American cheese as an article of food. We believe the true remedy lies in prohibiting the production of filled cheese, which is manufactured in the western states, chiefly in Ohio, Illinois and Wisconsin. We are informed that New York state has prohibited its production. We ask you for your assistance in this matter, and trust you will not only put this matter in the hands of the government, but suggest they should draw the attention of the dairy association and governors of the various states where this article is produced. Your obedient servant, J. L. HARMOOD BANNER, Secretary. THOMAS H. SHERMAN, ESQ., American Counsul, Liverpool. UNITED STATES CONSULATE. LIVERPOOL, January 13th, 1890. HON. WILLIAM F. WHARTON, Assistant Secretary of State, WASHINGTON, D. C. SIR. At the request of the Liverpool Provision Trade Association and Exchange Co., Ld., I forward herein for your consideration a copy of a letter addressed to me by its secretary, inviting attention to the exportation from the United States to the United Kingdom of "filled cheese," an article compounded of inferior materials, and believed to be harmful to consumers and to the interest of honest dairy farmers in the United States. The Association is informed that in New York, the production of this article is prohibited, and asks that the attention of the general government and the governments of other states, may be called to the matter. I am, Your obedient servant, sir, THOMAS H. SHERMAN, Consul. (Enclosure:) MR. BANNER to MR. SHERMAN, 8th January, 1890. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, WASHINGTON, February 1, 1890. THE HONORABLE THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY: Sir.- I have the honor to transmit herewith enclosed copy of a despatch from the Consul at Liverpool, transmitting copy of a letter from the Liverpool Provision Trade Association and Exchange Company, relating to the exportation from the United States to the United Kingdom, of "filled cheese." I have the honor to be, sir, Your obedient servant, (Enclosure: From the Consul at Liverpool, No. 61. January 13, 1890.) TREASURY DEPARTMENT. Office of the Secretary. WASHINGTON, D. C., Feb. 6th, 1890. COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS, New York, N. Y.: Sir.-I transmit herewith copy of a letter dated the 1st instant from the Honorable the Secretary of State, and of its enclosed Despatch No. 61, dated the 13th ultimo, and accompanying letter, from the U. S. Consul at Liverpool, in relation to the exortation from the United States to the United Kingdom, of so-called "filled cheese," an article compounded of inferior materials, and believed to be harmful to consumers and to the interests of honest dairy farmers in the United States. It is suggested that you place the enclosed papers before the proper officers of the produce exchange at New York for their information. Copies of the papers have been transmitted to the honorable the secretary of agriculture. President New York Produce Exchange, New York City: Sir-I transmit herewith a copy of a letter this day received by the collector from the secretary of the treasury, together with copies of a letter from the honorable, the secretary of state, and of its enclosures from the United States consul at Liverpool, which the collector is requested to submit for the consideration of your exchange. Dear Sir — At a meeting of the board of managers, held this day, the enclosed communication from Charles P. McClelland, special deputy collector, with communication from consul, at Liverpool, relative to the exportation from the United States to the United Kingdom of "filled cheese," was received and referred to your committee. Yours very truly, THOMAS P. WHITE, Secretary. NEW YORK, February 26th, 1890. C. G. BURKE, ESQ., DEAR SIR-Your committee have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the several communications concerning the adulteration of cheese emanating from the Liverpool Provision Trade Association and Exchange Company, Limited. The subject has had full and thorough investigation which its importance demands. This matter received the attention of the members of this exchange on February 23, 1887, upon which occasion the following preamble and resolutions were adopted: WHEREAS, Large quantities of cheese are being manufactured in some portions of the western states from milk from which the cream has been entirely extracted, by the separator process, and other animal and vegetable fats substituted for the butter so extracted; and, WHEREAS, These goods are being almost entirely exported to Great Britain without being stamped or branded so as to distinguish their true character, and which are calculated to deceive; and, WHEREAS, These spurious goods are working an injury to legitimate trade in cheese; therefore, be it Resolved, That the cheese trade of the New York Produce Exchange deem it their duty to expose and discountenance such frauds by every means in their power. Resolved, That we condemn the practice of adulterating cheese with animal or vegetable fats are demoraliziug, and tending to create a prejudice in the markets of the world. Resolved, That the attention of the dairy commissioners be drawn to the above resolutions, with a request that they do all they can to enforce the laws in regard to the make and sale of imitation cheese. Since when the vigilance exercised by the assistant dairy commissioners in this city has put a stop to the trade in filled cheese in this market. Your committee have communicated with the several dairy and food commissioners of the following states, to-wit: New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and Connecticut. The state of Illinois, as far as we can ascertain, has no dairy commissioner. The letters received have gone into the subject thoroughly and fully, and we submit extracts from these bearing on the subject. 66 J. K. Brown, New York State Dairy Commissioner, under date of February 19th, says: The statutes of this state do not in express terms prohibit the manufacture and sale of butter filled cheese. I am in favor of a national law, as well as a state law; the former would reach many cases which the latter could not, and whatever its provisions, they would be uniform, affecting all states alike. Any legislation tending to stop the tampering with dairy products is of the utmost importance, not only to the consumer, but to the producer as well, as it would help to restore and maintain the confidence necessary to a normal consumption of the product." Wm. K. Newton, New Jersey Dairy and Food Commissioner, under date of February 17th, says: "I enclose a marked copy of the laws of this state relating to food. You will notice that 'filled cheese' may be sold if the box is properly marked and branded 'imitation cheese,' and at the time of sale the purchaser must be informed." Henry Talcott, Assistant Dairy and Food commissioner for Ohio, writes under date of the 15th of February: "In answer to your questions: first, our law does prohiblt the manufacture of cheese out of any substance but pure milk, salt and harmless coloring matter; and I would punish a filled cheese manufacturer in Ohio very quick if such a one could be found; second, I would most heartily approve of a national law prohibiting it. Ohio is free from this stain of filled cheese." H. C. Thom, Dairy and Food Commissioner for Wisconsin, states, under date of February 20th, that "the laws of this state do not prohibit the manufacture of filled cheese when said filling consists of butter. The laws of the state demand the branding only of full cream cheese. I am in favor of a national law that will prohibit the filling of cheese in any way. We have made it so very warm for parties in Wisconsin who have been filling cheese with low grade butter that the business has been discontinued, and I feel safe in saying that not a pound of filled cheese is being made in this state at the present date." H. D. Sherman, Iowa state dairy commissioner, writes under date of February 17th: "I this day send you by mail a copy of our state dairy law. As you will see, it covers the adulteration of cheese the same as butter. I am most heartily and femphatically in favor of a national law that will cover all kinds of the detestable stuffed cheese. It is no better than oleomargarine, and should come under the same law of control." 66 Warren J. Ives, Minnesota state dairy and food commissioner, writes as follows: 'Febuary 19th. Our laws does not permit the manufacture of filled cheese, even though filled with butter. I most certainly approve of a state as well as a national law with reference to filled cheese even more stringent, if possible, than the present oleomargarine law." J. B. Tatem, state of Connecticut dairy commissioner, writes under date of February 21st: 'Our state has no law which applies to cheese. I believe that a law similar to the oleomargarine law, so called, applied to cheese would prove a benefit to both producer and consumer. From the foregoing it will be noticed that the laws of the states of New York, New Jersey and Wisconsin do not prohibit the manufacture of cheese filled or enriched with butter; while those of Ohio, Iowa, Minnesota, and we may add Pensylvania, prohibit filling of any kind. Illinois, we understand, has no statutes on this important subject, and from the best information we can obtain, there are several firms manufacturing filled cheese in that state, of nearly every size and shape adapted |