The daily gazette., 1883-02-26
DailuaEA Gazette
WILMINGTON. MONDAY. FEE. 90.
Adulteration of Food.

In a conversation with reporter Of the
Philadelphia Ledger, a few days ago, Prof
Henry Lehman, of that city, stated that the
adulteration OF food articles is carried on to
a very large extent. He was not Of the
opinion that poisonous ingredients were
used In the adulteration, but simply that
cheap substitutes were introduced and the
purchaser charged for the full price Of the
more costly material thereby saved. AS an
instance Prof Lehman mentioned the com
mon and necessary article of baking powder,
of which he said
''The best grades OF baking powders con-
tain about 20 per cent. of starch, and man
who buys five pounds of baking powder,
sold say for so cents. per b., has paid so
cents for pound OF starch, costing but two
or three cents. Starch is also used a good
deal 10 giving bulk to some kinds of candy
or confectionery, and there, as is the case
when glucose is used, you pay for what ou
don't get. Glucose is not hurtful TO health;
indeed, ordinary cane sugar is turned to glu-
cose when eaten; but it contains only half
the sweetenng power OF sugar, so that you
are taken in 80 per cent. on every pound
yo1 buy of it for sugar or sugar produc-
tlons."
Prof. Lehman also spoke of the coloring
matter used for fine confectionery, much OF
which, he said, was of very deleterious
character, though of late years many man
uf4cturers have instituted decided reform
by using only those materials for eoloring
which have been proved by chemical analy-
sis to be perfectly harmless. He then pro-
ceeied to dispel the popular fallacy of a de-
ception on the part Of grocers by 'sand-
ing" sugar, and to expose another trick in
tAis trade, equally as contemplate, though
not such . palpable fraud. He said
~ have never found any sanded sugar,
and think that is a form of adulteration that
exists only in the popular mind; but there
is a trick largely practiced by which lower
grade sugars are sold for high priced grades
through the introduction Of ultra marine by
which to offset their yellow color, and give
them a bright, white appearance. The
ultra-marine is, perhaps, not used in
quantities that are dangerous to the public
health, but 1t would be much better not To
have it used In that way at ALL"
The Professor mentioned other of the
almost innumerable ways in which adultera
tions are carried on, and how substitutions
are made, mentioning in the latter category
the sale of cotton seed, walnut or chestnu
oil for pure olive Oil; of an inferior starel
for taploca, oleomargarine for pure butter
aud compounded decoctions for pur'
wines and brandies. From which 1t will
be seen that the people of Wilmington arr
as much interested in the matter as are the
residents Of Philadelphia and other large
cities.
One important matter. of particular
moment to the people of Wilmington, wa
no. referred TO by Prof. Lehman, and tha
Is the adulteration of milk, True, the adul
terating material used in this connection
pure water, that will not harm anyone, bui
nevertheless, it cannot be truly claimed tha
its use improves the character of tn
lacteal fluid 10 the slightest degree
People prefer to take their mil
and water separately, and while mixtul
doesn't hurt the water, it makes of the mil
compound not desirable for any purpose
Pure milk used TO be one of the boasts
Wilmington, but of late years many yende
have fallen into an unpleasant habit of ca
rying on milking operations in too clio
proximity to the pump from which tho
water their stock. The result is thi
blueish compound, utterly devoid of nutr
tious qualities and scarcely equal to goo
skim-milk that has not been treated to t
weakening adulteration
In many cities this evil Of adulterat
milk became SO glaring that milk inspeetC
were appointed, and 1t is now not an u
common occurrence for two or three hu
drel cans of milk to be condemned at o
time by the New York inspectors a
emptied into the Hudson river An ofiic
of this kind in Wilmington would ha
plenty to do for few months \
while his services would protect the peol
from further imposi;ions BY dishon
venders, the reputable dealers would a
find in his administration a protecti
against an unjust competitor to which Il
are now subjected. Let US have NJ
Inspector as soon as possible.