Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-06
FOOD FRAUDS.
The Shameful Use OF Lime and Alum
in Cheap Baking Powders.

The Shameful Use OF Lime and Alum
in Cheap Baking Powders.
Many food frauds, such as chicory coffee
or watered milk, although they are a
swindle in commercial sense, are often
tolerated because they do not particularly
affect the health of the consumer; but
when an article like baking powder, that
enters largely into the food OF every fam
ily, and 10 relied upon for the healthful
preparation OF almost every meal, is 30
made as to carry highly Injurious, II not
rankly poisonous. elements into the bread
TO the imminent danger of the entire
community, it is the duty OF the press to
denounce the practice in the most em-
phatic terms.
Among recent important discoveries by
the food analysts is that by Prof. Mott,
the u. S. Government Chemist, OF large
amounts OF lime and alum in the cheap
baking powders. These are, one tbs most
dangerous, and the other the most useless
adulterants yet found in the low-grade,
inferior baking powders. IL Is startling
fact that of over one hundred different
brands OF baking powders so far anaiyz d,
comprising all those sold In this vicinity,
not one OF them, with the single excep.
ton 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 carbonlc acid
gas, but a Quiok-lime Is left--a caustIc 80
powerful that it is used by tanners TO eat
the hair from hides OF animals, and in
dissectlng rooms to more quickly rot the
flesh from the bones OF dead subjects. A
small quantity Of dry lime upon the ton
que, or in the eye, produces painful
off
these effects be on the delicate membranes
OF the stomach, Intestines 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,
dyspepsia, and those painful diseases Of
the kidneys now so prevalent. Instances
of the most serious affections OF the latter
organs from drinking lime water found in
some sections Of the West are noted in
every medical journal.
Adulteration with lime is quite as much
to be dreaded as with alum, which has
heretofore received the most emphatic
condemnation from every food analyst.
physician and chemist, for the reason
that, while alum is probably partially
dissolved and passed of In gas by the he 1t
OF boxing, it is impossible to destroy or
OnaHse tne hntuio Vi Vhe hne III any ue-
gree, so that the entire amount IN the
baking powder passes, with all its In
furious properties into the stomach.
When we state that the chemists have
found twelve per cent. OF one.eighth Of
the entire weight of some samples OF bak-
ing powder analysed, TO be lime, the
wickedness Of the adulteration will be
fully apparent.
Pure baking powders are one OF the
chief aids to the cook in preparing per-
feet and wholesome food. W lille those
are 10 he obtained OF well-establshed
reputation, like the Royal, OF whose pur-
ity there mas never been and cannot be a
question, IL 10 proper 10 avoid all others.