"These figures prove conclusively that the dairy industry in Michigan has not been developed to nearly such an extent as in the other states with which Michigan might fairly be compared. "In the states with which I have compared Michigan, this important industry has been encouraged by the state government by the furnishing of special instruction and inspection on the farm, in the dairy and in the factory. To produce dairy products, butter, cheese and milk, of wholesome and superior quality, that will command the highest market prices, and yield the greatest profit to the producer, requires more technical knowledge in every detail of the business, from the growing of the food crops for the cow to the manufacture and marketing of the product, than does any other branch of agriculture. Part of this instruction must necessarily be given right on the farm and in the dairy and in the factory. It cannot be acquired at college. "I would recommend the addition to the police duties of the Dairy and Food Department, of the duties of instruction where necessary, and the enactment of such legislation at the earliest possible moment as will make possible the broadening of the scope of this Department to authorize this necessary work." As outlined above, new legislation had to be secured before the reorganization of the Department could be effected. This legislation was very promptly enacted by the unanimous vote of both Houses of the Legislature, and received your approval on March ninth of the present year. The text of this law appears in full in another part of this report. The new work of the Department was promptly taken up and a force of skilled inspectors of dairies was appointed. The work of dairy inspection has been in charge of the Deputy Dairy and Food Commissioner. A sufficient time has now elapsed to have demonstrated fully the great value of this work, the first results of which are set forth in the following pages of this report. The Department as reorganized by the new law had placed in its charge the sanitary supervision of bakeries and confectionaries. The work done along this line, even up to the present time, has in my opinion warranted the entire increase in the appropriation granted the Department by the Legislature of 1905. A report covering this phase of the Department work accompanies this letter of transmittal. In the application of the food laws a competent force of inspectors has been continuously employed and considerable advancement has been made in the ridding of Michigan markets from impure and adulterated food products. Soon after assuming the duties of this position, I expressed in the regular Department bulletin the belief that it would assist greatly in the efficient administration of this Department if systematic cooperation between all the forces interested in pure food products could be secured. In carrying out this policy an effort was made on the part of the Department to combine the forces at its im mediate command with those of the honest manufacturer, jobber and retailer, in the effort to compel the dishonest manufacturer, jobber or retailer to obey the law. After an application of this policy for five and one-half months, I can safely say that the results have been satisfactory. In making this report, I desire to refrain from expressing final conclusions, for I feel that sufficient time has not elapsed in the working out of the new policies stated above to warrant unqualified approval. This, however, may be safely said, that up to the present time the new law has accomplished all that its most sanguine friends predicted of it. The following are the new lines of work taken up by the Department as reorganized: The inspection and supervision of city milk supply. Systematic inspection of creameries and cheese factories, including sources of supply. The institution of State educational scoring contests for dairy products. A. C. BIRD, Dairy and Food Commissioner. ABSTRACT OF CHANGES IN DAIRY AND FOOD LAWS. Annual appropriation increased from twenty-five thousand dollars to thirty-five thousand dollars, with power to use in addition all moneys arising from license and registration fees. Number of regular inspectors increased from six to eight, with change of salary from three dollars per day to one thousand dollars per annum. Provision made for the appointment of special inspectors, the combined salaries of which shall not exceed six thousand dollars in any one year. Maximum salary of State Analyst increased from eighteen hundred dollars to two thousand dollars per year. Maximum salary of assistant chemist increased from one thousand dollars to twelve hundred dollars per year. Necessary clerks for the proper performance of the duties of the of fice provided for. Control of sanitary conditions of bakeries, confectionaries, ice cream plants and other places where food or drink products are manufactured, stored or sold. Penalties provided for continuing to operate bakeries, confectionaries, ice cream plants, etc., under unsanitary or filthy conditions. The Dairy and Food Commissioner charged with the duty of fostering and encouraging the dairy industry of the State. Required to investigate the general condition of creameries, cheese factories, skimming stations, etc., with full power to enter upon any premises for investigation. The Dairy and Food Commissioner is charged with inspection of creameries, cheese factories, condensed milk factories, skimming stations, milk depots and farm dairies together with the enforcement of the law with respect to sanitary conditions and cleanliness. The Dairy and Food Commissioner may cause instruction to be given wherever deemed advisable. Penalties provided for selling impure or unwholesome milk or cream. Penalties provided for permitting unsanitary conditions to exist in creameries, cheese factories, condensed milk factories, skimming stations, milk depots or farm dairies. Proprietors of creameries, cheese factories, condensed milk factories, skimming stations and milk depots to register with the Dairy and Food Commissioner, file yearly report and pay to the office of the Dairy and Food Commissioner a registration fee of five dollars on or before April first of each year. Retail milk dealers to secure a license from the Dairy and Food Commissioner on or before July first of each year. All moneys collected for registrations of creameries, cheese factories, condensed milk factories, skimming stations, milk depots and retail milk dealers' licenses to be used in helping defray the expenses of the office of the Dairy and Food Commissioner in addition to the annual appropriation. Concentrated commercial feeding stuffs defined. Dairy and Food Commissioner is charged with the enforcement of the law regulating the sale of concentrated commercial feeding stuffs. Manufacturers or dealers in concentrated commercial feeding stuffs must deposit samples of their products in the office of the Dairy and Food Commissioner together with certified analyses of the same. Manufacturers or dealers must attach to every package of concentrated commercial feeding stuffs a true statement of the number of net pounds contained therein and a chemical analysis of the product sold or offered for sale. Manufacturers or dealers in concentrated commercial feeding stuffs required to pay an annual license fee of twenty dollars for each brand sold or offered for sale. All moneys collected for license fees of concentrated commercial feeding stuffs to be used in helping defray the expenses of the office of the Dairy and Food Commissioner in addition to the annual appropriation. PRESERVATIVES. Each and every package containing food products preserved with benzoic acid or benzoate of sodium or any other harmless preservative shall, in the condition in which it is exposed for sale be distinctly, conspicuously, and legibly branded, labeled or marked in plain English letters with the words "Prepared with" followed by the proper English name of the preservative used. |