Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1886-07-08
Food Frauds.
THE SHAMEFUL USE OF LIME AND ALUM IN
CHEAP BAKING POWDERS.

Many food frauds such as chicory coffee or
watered milk. although they swindie In a com
mercial sense, are often tolerated because they
do not particularly affect the health of the con-
sumner; but when an article like baking pow
der. that enters largely into the food OF every
family. and Is relied upon for the healthfui
preparation Of almost every meal, Is so made
Is TO carry highly injurious. II not rankly pois-
onous, elements into the bread to the imlni-
nent danger OF the entire community, II Is the
duty of the press TO denounee the practice IN
the most emphatic terms,
Among recent important discoNerie. hy the
food analysts is that by Prof. Mott. the L. 5.
Government Chemist, of large amounts OF
lime and alum In the cheap baking powders.
These are, one the most dangerous, and the
other the most useless. atiulterants yet found
in the iow-grsde, inferior baking powders. II
Is startling fact that of over one hundred dif-
ferent brands Of baking powder 80 far analysed
comprising all those sold In this vicinity, not
one of them, with the single exception OF the
ROYAL Baking Powder. was found free from
both lime and alum. The chief service OF lime
Is to add weight. 1t Is true that lime. when
subjected to heat. gives OF a certain amount of
csrbonic acid gas. but a quiek-lime Is left-a
caustic so powerful that 1t Is used by tanners
TO cal the hair from hides of animals. and in
disseeting rooms to more quickly rot the flesh
from the bones of dead subjects. small
quantity OF dry lime upon the tongue. or in
the eye. produces painful effects. how much
more serious must these effects be upon the
delicate membranes Of the stomach, utestiues
and Kidneys. more particularly Of infants and
children. and especially when the lime Is taken
into the system day after day, and with almost
every meal This is said by physicians 10 be
one OF the chief causes Of indigestion, dyspep-
sia and those painful diseases Of the kidneys
now 50 prevalent. Instances 81 the most seri-
Gus affections Of the latter organs from drink
ing lime waters found IN some sections OF the
West are noted IN every medical journal.
Aduitcration with lime j. quite a much 20
be dreaded A. with alum, which has heretofore
received the most emphatic condemnation from
every food analyst, physician and chemist,
for the reason that, while alum 1, probably
partially dissolved aud passed of in gas by the
heat OF baking. it i impossible 10 destroy or
change the nature of the lime In any degree.
that the entire amount In the baking pow
der passes. with all lis injurious properties
into the stomach. when We state that the
chemists have found twelve per cent, or one
eighth u the entire weight Of some samples OF
baking powder analyzcl. TO be- lime. the wick
etlness Of the adulieTation will be fully appar-
pnf.
Pure baking powder, are one Of the chief
aids 10 the cook in preparing perfect and
wholesome food. While those are TO bc OBJ
tanned Of wel-cstabIished reputation. like the
Royal. 81 whose purity there has never been
and cannot be question, L j. proper 70 avoid
All Others.