Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-12-29
ADULTERAIIONS OF FOOD.

press ana Parliamentary Commissions show
ing how tsTribly he had been swindI-d and
hOeussed by authorizations OF almost every
sTucle OF food supply. or table use sold in
Great Britain. 1t Is now Brother Jonathan's
turn 10 be shown how shoekingly he is cheated
and poisoned by his grocers aud provision
dealers The New York Void after the style
Ct the London Tunes, has started out Com
missioner TO investigate frauds practlsed b.
the dealers of New York city by means of
adulteratiOns, and false weights and meas ures.
Purchases Were made from large number of
oeslers, and the articles were re- weighed. and
also submitted TO chemical analysis. The
BoTld publishes the results Of its in yestigations
from day 70 day, sud estimates the losses to
consumers through the rascalities of the sellers
At - per cent on the aggregate purchases BY
the people Of thar city.
The figures given by the World do not seem to
sustain 50 high per csntage, but it would APP
pear that the loss 10 the consumer Is al least
rom eight TO ten per cent. The expose has
c-eated quite a Hurry amongst the dealers in
New YORK, and the World is filled daily with
cards by the delinquents, giving various ex-
cuSes for light weight and authorizations proved
upon their packages In the matter of weights
they plead shrinkage after the packages have
left their hands, or that they are not respon.
"a
are Oftieially examined but once a year. To
these the World replies that the shr, nkage could
not be much in couple OF hours, and could
certainly not account for the discrepancy of an
ounce IN pound package; and as for the wear
and tear OF the weights and scales, the grocers
always watch them carefully enough to see
that they do not give overweight. They keep
themselves we'll informed If their scales ever
indicate too much; therefore they must be
equally we'll Informed If they indicate to-
little.
The charge of adulterating food is tacitly ad.
United, but Is partially defended en- the ground
that the people demand a cheap article. and
that it cannot be afforded in Its purity at the
prices they are willing to pay. Also, that the
sdulteratiOns are not really hurtfuI to health
The Chemical analysis tells, however, differ
ent story. Chieory, tor instance, which is so
largely mixed with coffee, according to DIR.
Hassal, produces diarrhRa and dyspepsia, and
4, cOrding 10 Prof. Beer, of Vienna. diseases of
the eye, which leads 10 blindness. Much Of
the vinegar sold now is nothing more or less
tbSn diluted sulphuric acid and water colored
with burnt sugar. The suIph1ric acid in turn
Is largely adulterated with arsenic; hence the
Introduction of that deadly poison into vinegar
Ii has also been developed that corrosive sub.
Innate IS used by some manufacturers to give
strength 70 vinegar. Pickles are boiled IN cop
Pr 10 give them the esteemed light green color
Tea Is colored with Prussian blue, yerdigris,
carbonate Of copper and similar frst-class
PcisOEs. Cream of .artar, which, with soda. is
extensively used all over the country, for the
raising of bread, IS a substitute for yeast, is
now extensively adulterated with terra aba.
white earth found among the chalk cliffs in
some parts Of England, which is susceptible of
being ground very fine. and therefore well TT
ted for an adulterant. Terra aba is now import
ed by the sbIp-load, and is applied in the
aGulieration OF a host of articles. II Is mixed
With powdered and crushed sugar. II is used
10 adulterate carbonate Of soda as Well as cream
Of tartar 1t Is mixed with soap, to ada 10 the
eight, and also with lac sulphur, sometimes
"A The proportion ofequal parts. ConfeetionsIs
use the white earth extensively in almost every
variety OF their business.
Coffee Is adulterated not only with chIcory
hut with sn infinite variety Of trash Of all sorts
and As colcred with burnt sugar, roasted horse
liver, and burnt blood! Spices are fearfuIIy
sdulterated, and the grocers defend the PRACTICE
C he ground that there is so much essential
u! N the genuine that the adulterated spice is
ttaIthier and pleasanter. But would il not be
as well for me purchaser TO be allowed 70 mix
to suit himself When we pay for Hour it
seems we get ground rice. beans, rye, Indian
corn, potato Hour, hydrated sulphate of lime
chalk. bone earth, plaster Of Paris, powdered
Hints, and alum. In tea we get leaves of the
beach. elm. horse-ehestnut. fancy oak willow.
poplar, hawthorne and sIaw, starch, rice
husks, exeremeut of silk worms and sand For
ColOriny tea, especially green tea, the most
Nirulert poiSons are used. For adulteration of
confectionery the number of ingredients used
i legion.
Some Of the modes OF adulteration shows an
astonishing degree of pains-taking rascaIity
FOR instance. nutmegs are frequently deprived
o. portion OF their essential oil by Installation.
and after berg Well covered and rubbed with
line. a-aagain sent TO market. Thus, in want
CT their most valuable properties, they feel
light and are dry and brittle. II on the sur
lace small punetures appear, il is certain that
= great portion of their essential oil has b.en
extracted. In France, damaged or worm-eaten
nutmeGs are dOctored thus: The small apsr.
tuIes are covered by kind Of cement formed
Q: Gill; flour. and powder OF refuse nutmezs.
These fraudulent nuts are shipped in large
quantities 10 America.
The powdered ginger is very badly adul.
tsrated. As the ginger is q root Of a fiorous
texture the genuine powder is known by traces
OF the fibre In order 70 initiate this and give
the true appearance 10 The stuff put up in
papers, the adulteraiors chop up and throw in
clio rope, junk, and oagging. A fibre is there
fere ALWAYS 10 be found IN pulverized g,nzer,
buI SAD TO relate, II may be of old Junk Cin-
namon is largely adultera,ed with cassia. This
Is supposed by the unsophisticated 10 be the
same thing, but IL Is not; the cinnamon bark is
MIN, brittle and aromatic; the cassia bark is
much stou'sr, more pungent, and leaves a
bitter taste. II is sold every where for genuine
cinnamon
The starsme that horses liver is used "a an
sdui<rant OF coffee is calculated 70 shock d.li-
care stomachs, but the process Of using the
adui'srant in England is described In H.ssall
nus; After baking the horses and BULLOCK.
hver, It's ground into powder, and sold 10
low price coffee shop dealers The best w.v
10 detect the adulteratlon Is to set ASIDE an in.
fusion Of the suspected coffee, and IL animal
matter be present in few days the lilo uid will
omit an offensive smell.
Our readers have observed the small hayes n,
ngs sold at the street corners all over the CITY
al low price. They are old, damaged, aud
~orny ngs, steamed and fixed over aud put
into new boxes. They are unhealthy and
should be Stunned, particularly by children
IL has long been known that spirituo Gus
liquors In use are nearly all badly ad u Iterated:
out the HOrid's Investigations show that the
p.zhest priced liquors at first class establish.
nents-brandy, for instance, that retails at