Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1886-09-15
FOOD FRAUDS.

THE SHAMEFUL USE OF LIME AND ALUMNI In
CHEAP BAKING POWDERS.
Many food frauds, such as chico
ny coffee or watered milk, although
they are swindle in commercial
sense, are often tolerated because
they do not particularly affect tbs
health Of the consumer; but when
an article like baking powder, that
enters largely into the food of every
family, and is relied upon for the
healthful preparation ofalmost every
meal, is so made as to carry highly
injurious,if not NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., ele-
ments into the bread to the immi-
nent danger of the entire commune
ty it is the duty of the press to de-
nouncs the practice in the most en-
phatic terms.
Among recent important discover
les by the food analysis is that by
Prof. Mott, the U. S. Government
Chemist, of large amounts of lime
and alumni in the cheap baking
powders. These are one the most
dangerous, and the other the most
useless adulterants yet found in the
lowgrade, inferior baking powders.
1t is startling fact that of over one
hundred different brands of baking
powders so far analysed, 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 to
add weight. 1t is true that lime,
when subject to heat, gives off a GER
tain amount of carbonic acid gas,
but quick lime is left--a caustic so
powerful that it is used by tanners
to eat the hair from hides Of animals
and in dissecting rooms to more
quickly rot the flesh from the bones
of dead subjects. A small quantity
Of dry lime upon the tongue, or in
the eye, produces painful effects
how much more serious must these
effects be on the delicate membranes
of the stomach, intestines and kid.
MES, 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 to
be one of the chief causes of indi.
gestion, dyspepsia and those painful
diseases OF the kidneys now SO prey.
alent. Instances of the most serious
affections of the latter organs from
drinking lime water found in some
sections Of the west are noted il
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 off in gas by the heat O.
baking, it is impossible to destroy
or change the nature of the lime il
any degree, SO that the entire ami
in the baking powder passes, with
all its injurious properties into the
stomach. When we state that the
chemists have found twelve per
cent or one eight Of the entire weight
of some samples of baking powder
analysed, to be lime, the wickedness
of the adulteration will be fully APP.
parent.
Pure baking powders are one Of
the chief aids to the cook in prepar.
ing perfect and wholesome food.
While those are to be obtained OF
well-established reputation, like the
Royal, Of whose purity there has
never been and cannot be a cues
ton, it is proper to avoid all others.