New-York tribune., 1886-06-06
IM4GINARY ADULTERATION.
CANDY PURER THAN MANY SUPPOSE.

A CONFYCTIOSrR TALKS ABOUT HIS TRADE-IIOW
THE BUSINESS rs INJURED.
So much has been said of late years about the
deliberations and impurities of food and drink
that il il little wonder that people have come 10
believe these impostIons and abuses prevail to
much greater extent than they really do Thou
sands of persons talk about sanding grinding
burnt beans with coffee, mixing willow leaves with
tea. as though these frauds were regularly prac-
tised by every grocer in the land. Nothing short
of a chemical analysis would convince many that
every quart OF milk sold the city not more or less
impure There are those who could not be induced
to eat canned good of any kind. while the aversion
of some 70 pork through fear of trichnosis, is equal
TO ShvlocIs hatred of the unlOveiy animal.
All these are the evil results of an excellent re-
FORM aud are IN measure unavoidable. That
there is yet room for improvement in every depart
rnent of food manufacture, sensible person Will
deav Indeed il may be fairly said that reforina-
tion in many branches of this important business
has only begun. But between the real limit 10
which the evil of alulteration prevails, and its
imaginary extent there Is wide margin. Take the
article of confectionery for example. To many
people an ordinary lump Of candy represents COM
pound of glucose aud terra alba, tinted
with some poisonous coloTing matter. Yet
Dr. Edison is authority for the statement
that there is not at present any iLIarious
confectionery made or sold by reputable house IN
this city. How then" 1t may be asked, docs II
hnppen that so many cases OF candy poisoning
occur :"
This question was put TO one OF the most proni-
nent manufacturers OF confectionery in this city
the other day by TRIBUNE reporter and was an
swcred thus: Il have made it a point OF late
years TO investigate every Of alleged poisoning
from candy that has been reported in and around
New-York The result of these inquiries enables
me 10 affirm that the great majority OF such
cascs are without foundation. 1t has become 80
customary to attribute uuusual sickness OF child
rem to this sourse that many, including physicians.
do 80 when there are no real grounds for 1t. re-
| cal q case that happened in Brooklyn year or
two ago. Two children were taken i'll suddenly
and some of the papers reported that they had been
noisonod by eating colored lozenges Yet have
the written assurance of both the father
of the children and the physician
who attended them, that their sickness
was due to other causes. In fact. they had not
been eating candy at al for DAYS previous 70 the
/ attack This j. only one instance OF m'nv that !
| could tell you about. There are however some
cases OF candy poisoning that are genalne, but the
candy Is not the product OF any, reputable manu-
factory Ii IS stuff which Il made Dy irresponsible
persons in cellars and garrels out OF the way oi the
hca tn officials. These persons, mostly foreigners
| nv the WAY have no reputation 10 MAINTAIN. Ihe1
goods are hawked IN the streets for the most part
and they care httlc about the character or qnaltY
of the materials which they employ. 1t so happens.
/ though that fhoc have little need for Inc1eaIents
which are really dangerous. hey make for tue nos1
part cheap common stock, and corn meal cereallne
/ starch and hour are the aaulieTants when they
mostly use. If the health officials OF other place
were rs vlde-awake as they are here, II would not
be long before impure confectionery would De un-
| known III the United states.
" But 1t is not the health authori-
tics alone who trying to abolish
the use of poisonous substances IN this business.
rhs National COnieclcners Association. a society
composed If the leading candr makers Of tae conn
try. will not only cXpei any mcmpeT found guilty.
of uein Terra lba other mineral substances or
iuiiirous colOrs III the manufacture OF conectlOn-
cry bUt Will also prosecute the guilty pereons
Furthermore, lt has standing otter ol SlOO
for evidence that will enable 1t TO c0n-
wet any person of this offence. The use of
any material whatsoever that tends 10 re-
duce the quality of candy below the sugar
standard is dlscounteuanced by the association
The confectionery business has been injured greatly
bv fa se charges but the abuses viii be corrected
shortly by legislative ald-. lie PIN 70 aheud the
laws touching the ddgteratIOn OF food, so a TO m
cude candies provisions. passed the Assembly
and senate. and will doubtless become law. lhls
bill makes the use of deeteuOus ingredients N
candy manufacture As great an oifence IN any part
OF the state as It now Is IN tins city, which s
under the special Health Code. Similar bills have
been introduced IN other state egIs latures where
needed There Is necessity Tor using any harm
ful material now sugar Is cheaP an1
kinds of harmless vegetable cOlOrinGs,
making II ineXcusaDie for any one TO employ
chrome colors Prusslan blue burnt umber or
Venetian red. II YOU have any doubts about
niece of candy beng wholesome drop II INTO a cup
of water If pure II will readily dissolve. but if
there are any mineral substances tale or terra alba
present they will remain undissolved. This Is
simple test. but for ordinary purposes 1t Is ef-
lec,Iye and certain"