The Worthington advance., 1882-03-02
WE'LL FOUNDED ALARM.
Pertinent Words from the Press and
Scientists on the Timely Question of Food
Adu1teratiOn.

The frightful and dangerous adulterations
practised by baking powder manufacturers
IS exciting an increased and widespread
alarm among consumers. The evil has at
tanned greater dimensions than the most
extreme alarmist could have imagined.
The San Francisco Daily Bulletin, COM
mented on this subject gives this following:
"1a city like New York, Government
chemist makes an analytical examination, and
dlscoses the fact that the very large proper
non OF powders sold there are made Of alum.
The action of alum on the human stomach ia
precisely tho same a. on the mouth; it draws
ana pnckers it all up, producing all sorts Of un-
pleasant and dangerous dieorders. In Ger
many, England, and France, any one found
manufacturing or selling alum powders Is sub
lect to heavy fine and imprisonment, but in
tols state OF California may be found hundreds
OF brands made Of this poisonous chemical.
cream tartar, which costs at wholesale from
thirty to forty-five cents per pound. Many ir-
Responsible and reckless manufacturers make
tnls important domestic article from alum,
"n3ch costs cut three cents per pound
Ihe Royal Baking Powder Company Of New
largest consumers Of grape cream tartar in the
worid, IN their efforts to introduce their goods
on this market were confronted by IN army of
alumni powders, which were sapping and un-
dermir5 n; the health Of this community. II
the avtraee citizens were told that his Oft re-
burn, etc., arose from using an impure and
poisonous baking powder, he would probably
such is the fact
Did any one Of our lady readers, in her
purchases Of domestic supplies, ever notice that
ders put up under his own name?
III she had an aDalVeia fr0m 4 comnafant
chemist it would tell her that in nearly every
case SHE WAS BEING OFFERED POISON in it's most
dangerous and subtle form; not poison that
quickly klls-for the dose 10 not large enough
the health Of her little ones The question
arises, why do grocers have their powders put
up under their own name, instead Of having
some well known, pure and reliable brand OF
powder? 1t 10 simply because their profit is
larger this way: Their powder is made of
aionl, II eighth the cost Of cream tartar
powder, and they are enabled to sell it in CON-
petition with An honest article like the Royal
Nearly all the powders sold by the
grocerymen Of this city, under their own
name, are made by prominent manufacturers
here. and are composed Of alum, and the only
safeguard a housewife has is to buy IN honest
cream tartar powder, made by some responsible
manufacturer.
"a series Of researches in San Francisco. on
the part OF Professor Hanks, the State Chemist,
shows that out OF ten different private corner
grocery brands, selected at random, every one
contained alum or other impurities, and eight
were short weight, some uf them thirty-fye
per cent. The names Of these powders arc not
here given; for it is scarcely believed that the
grocers were aware Of what they were buying
ana having put up under their
own names. but the samples
and reports are in the possession Of Mr..
Ranks.
''We make the suggestion to every render to
consider whether the pitiful saving arising from
the purchase OF cheap baking powder com
pensates for the loss of health incurred. After
the repeated warnings Of science, any mother
who continues the use Of these poisonous COM
over her head. Go ask your family doctor Il
alum baking powders are dangerous, and be
guided by his advice"
In the Eaet where this subject is exciting
greatinterest, DR.. Halls journal Of Health ssys.
III recent issue:
Before committing ourselves, however. We
made tests OF q sufficient number Of baking
powders to safety ourselves that the substitu.
ton OF alum for cream Of tarter in their CON-
position has not been over estimated. while 3
careful examination of the Royal Baking Pow
der confirms our belief that Dr. Mott, the form
or government Chemist, when he singled out
and commended this powder for its wholesome
ness, did it wholly in the interest Of the public.
We do not hesitate to say that the Royal baking
Powder people deserve the gratitude OF the
community whom they are endesvor ing to
protect"
DR.. Edward G. Love, the present Analytical
Chemist for the government, says the New
York Tribune, December II, 1880, has re.
Gently made some interesting experiments az ia
the comparative value of baking powders DR..
Loves tests were mace to determine what
brands were the most economical to use. And
as their capacity lies in their leavening power.
tests were directed solely to ascertain the
aviable gas Of each powder.
It's proper to state that all the powders ex-
amined were from the open market, and that the
original labels were in every case broken by
DR.. Love himself