The Fundamental Principles of Feeding
Cleanliness and Purity. The following standards are necessary to meet these requirements.
1. Unadulterated foods. Foods unwholesome because of adulteration include:
a. Canned goods preserved with benzoate of soda or other artificial preservative
b. Candies, jams, pickles, containing coal-tar dyes and other adulterants
c. Sulphur-bleached dried fruits and molasses
d. Bakery goods made with preserved eggs, milk, and other adulterants
2. Protection from dust, dirt, and insects. Dry foods, such as bread, crackers, dates, figs should be kept wrapped in moisture-proof paper. Butter, bakery goods, and dried fruits not so wrapped should be kept under glass. Fruits and vegetables should be kept within doors, protected from dogs and cats. Milk, which is most easily contaminated, should be produced in a clean dairy, by clean workers, kept covered constantly, protected from animals, in a cool place.
3. Preparation under sanitary conditions. Bakeries and other food factories and kitchens should be scrupulously clean, with abundance of fresh air and sunlight. All persons handling food should be free from any contagious disease, with clean hands and garments. This factor is even more important than freedom from adulteration.
It is easily possible to-day to ascertain what products meet the pure food requirements. By careful purchasing, and the preparation and serving of food at home by healthy individuals, with intelligent attention to sanitation, these essential requirements of hygiene can be most completely assured.