MYTHICAL FRUIT

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 150, 29 June 1928, Page 3

MYTHICAL FRUIT

LEMONLESS SQUASH CITRUS GROWERS' CRUSADE "The future of the citrus industry depended largely on fruit drinks; iv California 50 per cent, of the crop was absorbed in that manner." ' This quotation from the, report of an: address delivered in Melbourne to the Australian Citrus Growers' Associations' Conference, by a delegate (Mr. B. S. 8./ Cook), indicates why citrusgrowers in Australia have'entered on a crusade to see that fruit drinks arc genuinely made from fruit —at any-rate so far as citrus fruits -are concerned. Already there have been prosecutions of vendors of leinoriless' lemon-squash, and there is talk of compelling orangeade and lemonade to become fruity or change their names. "There is no lemonjuice in lemonade," complains Mr. Cook. Part of the crusade is an enormously stimulated (or simulated) interest in dietetics by Australian .fruitgrowers. They have all become dietitians ', and purists at one stroke. Reporting proceedings at- the last meeting of tho Victorian Health Commission (chairman, Dr. Robertson), a Melbourne paper states: "Arising out of the prosecution of certain aerated water manufacturers by the Preston Council recently under section. G5 (3) of tho Victorian Food and Drug Regulations, when fines were imposed on O.T. Ltd. and Marehant and Company, the chairman stated that a deputation of aerated water manufacturers had requested that the Department issue a direction to the various municipalities that tho manufacturers be allowed reasonable time to label correctly an aerated drink, illegally labelled' as 'lemon squash,' before action be taken to prosecute them. Tho manufacturers asked for the assistance of the Department in preparing labels to conform with tho regulations. They would submit new labels and samples of the products to the.Department. Dr. Robertson stated that in tho new rogulations it was provided that any. drink called a 'squash' must contain fruit squasli. This, in addition to being a help tp tho fruit industry, obviously provided for a better drink. Ho had informed the deputation that the commission had no authority to ask municipalities to overlook an Act of Parliament. It was a travesty to call a mixturo of oil of lemons and sugar lemon squash. The commission decided to examine the new labels when those were prepared,, and to assist tho manufacturers to describe tho product, in 1 compliance with the regulations." At the citrus-growers' conference the I litigation on the subject was referred to, and it was resolved that the law should be strengthened to prevent the public being deceived byl misleading labels. Gratification was expressed at what tho Victorian Department of Railways has done in tho way of promoting sales of genuino fruit drinks.