A Sour Business: Cafe Sues Dairy Commissioner Over Formaldehyde Milk
A Seattle cafe owners' association alleges a malicious arrest by the state dairy commissioner in a scandal involving poisoned milk.
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The Fashion Cafe has commenced suit in the superior court against the Royal Dairy and State Dairy Commissioner McDonald. The owners of the cafe were arrested a week ago for offering for sale milk that contained formaldehyde. In the complaint filed yesterday, they allege that the arrest was malicious and that the commissioner was 'in connivance and collusion' with the Royal Dairy. It is alleged that the impure milk was bought from the Royal Dairy. The owners of the cafe then gave this milk to the dairy commissioner, who had it analyzed. The examination disclosed the presence of the poisonous substance known as formaldehyde. The commissioner then swore out a warrant for the arrest of the proprietors of the cafe. This case has not been disposed of.
“The owners of the cafe were arrested a week ago for offering for sale milk that contained formaldehyde.”
Food safety regulation and the politics of contamination continue to be high-stakes issues. This 1903 conflict mirrors modern struggles where small businesses argue they are being scapegoated by regulators for the failures of larger suppliers.
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