Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1851-04-03
Poisonous Break fast Beverages.

Having seen some remarks in the adulteration
of coffee in the Leader, think few words by one
who has been behind the curtain may be of use
To begin with green tea, the system of facing, or
getting up, it is called, is carried on to an ex-
tent that few people would believe. Twelve or
fourteen years ago the facing was chiefly done by
the hand-in Manchester, at least-and the prin-
elpal ingredient used was magnesia. This gave
place to Prusslan blue, indigo, and Dutch pink
Within the last few years various other deleterious
articles have been brought into use, and the steam
engine Is now made to do the work that was form
erly done by hand. When black tea is so much
damaged that it cannot be sold without disguise,
they at once set to work and make it into green.
No matter how rotten it is, it will be steamed and
roasted up; and if it will not take curled leaf, it
is ground and made into small green tea
Plumbago, ivory black, French chalk, and other
like substances, are used to lay a foundation for
the Prussan blue, ETC.; and the quantity of those
powders used for that purpose is truly frightful-
The system OF mixing and repacking is also carried
on to an enormous extent; and great is the ngenu-
itv often displayed In making the chests look ORR
ginal. The new nails are often sprinkled with
salt and water to make them look rusty Ground
coffee Gas most people are aware) is quite as much
adulterated as tea. | have seen remarks made
about various kinds of grain being used, but the
principle article is chicory, which is itself mixed
with every substance that can assimate with it.
In Liverpool, damaged sea-bread is bought up for
the purpose, and all kinds of spoiled grain. Rye
is also used in large quantities and when chicory
was dearer than at present have seen clay (yes
common clay by the cart load) used in Manchester
for the purpose Of reducing chicory to 36s per cw
When heavy grain was used, the packets looked
so small for the money that another scheme was
adopted. That was to roast and grind bran along
with it and have seen hundreds of tons roasted
for that purpose. To give rich blooming appear
ance to all this rubbish oxide Of iron is used in
large quantities, and orange buds ground along
with it to give it different flavor IfeYen no grain
is used Venetian red and orange buds are used,
for colorng chicory alone. At present something
like cacined sugar is having great run, and goes
by the name of tiningo A little of it is put along
with the chicory; but it can easily be detected by
the naked eye, showing itself in bright glitterng
particles like glass Cocoa also shares the same
fate as tea and coffee. At the present time know
that in Lancashire soluble cocoa is made at prices
which vary from ID. up to 2s the h., from the same
parcel of cocoa. To effect this, -four, potatoes,
farina, and other like substances are used also,
treacle, and here again oxide Of iron Is used to
keep up the color. The evil does not end here,
for those shopkeepers who often get the blame for
the practices have alluded to, know nothing Of
them, the fault of is with the wholesale dealers,
(or manufacturers may call them) and often al
so carry on retail business, but who take care to
sell good articles themselves and serve other shops
with goods which they will not sell. Thus they
monopolize the ready-money trade to themselves,
and get name of tair-dealing. We hear much
talk at times about sanitary reform; but | think
little good can be effected as long the peoples
food is poisoned by such doings. have no doubt
whatever but every branch Of the provision trade
is subject to the same complaints.-LOndOn Lea
der