(F. I. D. 51.)
COLORING OF BUTTER AND CHEESE.
Numerous inquiries, of which the following is an illustration, have been received by the Department:
Will you kindly inform me concerning the coloring of butter and cheese under the pure-food law? Would it be unlawful to color butter and cheese as now practiced?
The coloring of butter is specifically permitted in the law of August 2, 1886 (24 Stat., 209), and the coloring of cheese in the law of June 6, 1896 (29 Stat., 253). It is held by the Department that the food and drugs act does not repeal the provisions of the acts referred to above and the addition of harmless color to these substances may be practiced as therein provided, and that the presence of coloring matter specifically recognized by acts of Congress as a constituent is not required to be declared on the label.
James Wilson,
Secretary of Agriculture.
Washington, D. C., January 18, 1907.
(F. I. D. 52.)
FORM OF LABEL.
The following is an extract from a letter recently received.
We do not understand the requirements of the regulations respecting the arrangement of labels; that is, the order in which the various features of the label should be arranged.
To meet the requests for the opinion of the Department regarding the proper arrangement of a label, the following order is suggested: