Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-11-22
QUESTIONABLE.

A New b liking Powder Alleged to Contain
Alum-An Old Established Reputation
the Best Guarantee.
A prominent newspaper recently alleged
that the Snow Flake Baking powder, made
in st. Paul, and offered for sale through
out the Northwest contained alum. It is
not our present purpose to inquire
whether these charges are true or not, as
that is question for the chemists t. de-
termine; and the Investigations that are
likely to follow will undoubtedly show
whether or not this drug is, as charged, q
component part of the 'sSnow Flake
powder. We cite the case rather for the
purpose of calling attention to the inter
est that has been awakened by the cir
cumstance as indicative of the increased
sensibility of the public upon the question
of danger arising from the use of alum
baking powders in the preparation
Of food. This is sub
ject for every day thought and discussion.
While it may be question whether or not
it is used in the Snow Flake, it is we'll
known fact that alum is, on account of its
cheapness, largely employed in the COM
pounding of many of the new brands of
baking powders. Inscriptions manufac-
turers who desire to reap all the profit pos
sible from these powders for the short
period during which only they know they
can be foisted upon the public, will natur-
ally use the cheapest materials they can
procure. Alum costs but three cents a
pound, while cream of tartar costs from
thirty to forty. The inducement to the
business adventurer who has no reputation
to maintain and is looking only for the
present profit, when he finds that he can
with this stuff make powder at one-eighth
the cost of reputable article, is
too great to be resisted. These
powders are constantly springing up
in every city and town, and are the source
of immense danger to the public. When
they are discovered, their proprietors are
very apt to fight thoss who have exposed
them with the desperation of bafied bur-
glar who suddenly finds his hopes of pros
pective swag vanish into thin air.
1t is hardly necessary to recapitulate the
evil effects of alum upon the human sys-
tenn. It is we'll understood to be injurious
in high degree. DR.. Waller, of the New
York board of health, in a warning to the
public against the use of these alum bak-
ing powders, stated that the action of the
alum in the stomach was precisely the same
as in the mouth; it draws and Fuckers
it up, producing unpleasant and danger
GUS disorders, dyspepsia, constipa-
ton, heart burn, etc. Through the ex-
.posure made by the Royal Baking
Powder Company of New York, which
originally brought to light this practice of
substituting alum for cream of tarter, tho
business was for time largely checked,
particularly in the east, where the high
est medical and sanitary authorities con-
demned it in the strongest possible Ian
guage, and earnestly seconded the efforts
Of the Royal Baking Powder Company to
suppress it. It now seems to be cropping
out again in some sections of the west.
At tho time of the original exposure, DR..
Mott, Government Chemist, analysed for
ty-two different samples of baking pow
der for the Government. He found more
than one-half of these to contain alum or
other injurious ingredients; and it is only
fair to say, in passing, he found also that
the Royal Baking Powder stood
the test, and in his report to
the Government placed it at the head of
the list for purity and strength. The st.
Paul Snow Flake being not then in exis-
tenee did not undergo this crucial test of
the Government Chemist, and therefore
We are without his valuable testimony as
to whether it is an alum powder. There
can be no doubt but that if what tho news
paper charges is true, and that 'sSnow
Flake" 10 only guise for ssAlum Flake"
the fact will be revealed when the Govern
mont Chemist again takes up the subject
of baking powders. In the meantime the
safety Of the public lies in the use only of
those baking powders of highest character
and old established reputation.
Martin Dreis has complete book and paper
box mandatory at $40 Robert street. First
cla9s blank books specially.
Fischbein Bros.
Offer 100 dozen button kid gloves for this week