Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-09-10

Complaints are made from various
sections of a band of baking powder
trNmps whose tricks upon unsuspect-
ing housekeepers seem to partake very
much of the nature of confidence oper-
atoms. The band is composed of
women, although employed and di-
rectcd by an agent of the other sex,
and their methods of procedure as cX-
planned by several ladies who have
been yiCtimiZed, is aS follows: Obtain
ing access to the kitchen, they intro
ducr the subject of baking powders,
mQuiring the kind used in the family.
Being shown the can, perhaps a fresh,
full one, they volunteer to test " it to
ascertain its qualities. Their test "
consists i'll placing the can on hot
stove or over lamp or gas Jet, or in
mixing the baking powder with water
both hot and cold. If the baking
powder is good for anything the heat
will, of course, eXpel the gas. which,
being ammoniacal or carbonic, is APP
parent to the sense of smell The
claim is then made that this odor indi-
Gates something detrimental. although
as a matter of fact, baking powder
that would give off no gas when sub
jectrd to heat would be without leav-
ening powder and valueleSs They
will also mix the baking powder given
them with water If pure it etlerves-
ceS quickly, The baking powder they
peddle being similarly mixed foams
up slowly like yeast, standing, perhaps.
over the top of the glass. This they
claim as evidence of superiority, where
rs it is exhibition of trick only, their
baking powder having been specially
prepared to make this test by the
addition Of flour, gum or albumen. 1t
is sure evidence of adulteratiOn. OF
course the object of these fraudulent
tricks is to destroy confidence in all
other kinds of baking powder, and to
sell the particular brand for which the
women are travelling.
Were this the whole of the operation
housekeePers would not often be de
ceived. Every intelligent person
knows that baking powder is not made
to be used in this way, but in cooking
where its action is entirely different
from that produced by dry heat or by
mixture with water alone. The chief
object of this jugglery is to destroy the
baking powder given for testing; or by
heating it to drive off its leavening
gases, and SO weaken it that when
used it will fail to work. At the next
baking there is heavy food, of course,
and the tramp" probably gets the
credit OF having told the housekeeper
a valuable fact. instead of having
spoiled her baking powder, as was
actually the case. The average tramp
will. in this way destroy from fifty to
seventy-tive pounds of baking powder
day.
\ second method of spelling for use
the baking powder is kitchen where
they are not permitted to experiment
with it, is by dexterouSly throwing in
the can a small quantity of salt, soda
or powdered lime. Again, should
there chance TO be no baking powder
in the house, the operators will pro,
duce. of the kind used by the family
4 sample that has been purpoSely
adulterated or doctored " to make
such an exhibit as they desire under
the So-called test.
The only way to protect our food
from being contaminated by tramps OF
this kind is to turn all persons wht
wish or attempt to tamper with it un
tremendously from the door, and Il
use those articles, only, which expert
ence has proved satisfactory, or tn,
official tests have established as pur,
and wholesome.