The Monitor., 1888-04-27
DANGEROUS FOOD DADULTERATIoN.
The Fraudulent use of Alum ana Lime
I'm Cheap Baking Powders.

If consumers prefer to buy an adulter-
ated article of food because it can be had
at lower price they undoubtedly have
the right to do so, provided the adulter-
ants are not of a character injurious to
health. Ii such articles are not falsely sold
AS pure and the customer is not deceived
as to their real character, the transaction
is not ilegitimate.
But the great danger in the traffic in
adulterated food arises from the deception
that is 2racticed by manufacturers usually
classing such goods as pure. This is al
most invariably done when the adulterant
is one that is injurious to health. For in
stance, manufacturers of alum and lime
baking powders not only fail to inform the
public of the real character of their goods,
but carefully conceal the fact that they
are made from these poisonous articles.
Most of these manufacturers also claim
some, while some go still further and pro
claim boldly that they are cream of tartar
goods, or even the genuine Royal Baking
Powder itself. No consumer will buy
alum baking powders knowingly, for it is
well understood that they are detrimental
to health. The sale of lime and alum
baking powders as pure and wholesome
articles is, therefore, criminal, and it is
satisfactory to notice that several persons
engaged in such sale have already been
brought to justice in the courts.
The official analysts have recently been
active in the pursuit of these dishonest
articles. The baking powders of several
States have been carefully examined. The
officials are surprised at the large amount
of lime and alum goods found. 1t is
suggestive fact that no baking powder ex-
cept the Royal has been found without
either lime or alum, and many contain both.
DR.. Prices baking powder has been found
to contain nearly 12 per cent. of lime;
Cleveland's / ! per cent of impurities; the
phosphate powders over 10 per cent. of
| lime.
| The chief service of lime is to add weight
| 1t is true that lime, when subjected to
heat, gives off a certain amount of carbon
c acid gas, but quick-lime is left-a
caustic OF most powerful nature. A small
quantity of dry lime upon the tongue, or in
the eye, produces painful effects; how
much more serious must these effects be
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 TO be
one of the causes of indigestion, dyspep-
sa, and those painful diseases of the kid
neys now so prevalent.
Adulteration with lime is qnte as much
to be dreaded as with alum, which has
| heretofore received the most emphatic
condemnation from food analysts, physi-
clans and chemists, for the reason that,
while alum may be partially dissolved by
the heat of baking it is impossible 10 de-
stroy or change the nature OF the lime so
| that the entire amount in the baking DOW
der passes, with all its injurious proper
| ties, into the stomach
The large profits from the Manufacture
! of lime and alum baking powders has
placed many of them in the market. They
are to be found in the stock of almost
every retail dealer, and are urged upon all
customers calling for baking powders up
on all occasions. Because of their we'll
| known detrimental character it is desir-
able that prompt means be taken to sup
press their manufacture.
Pure baking powders are one Of the
chief aids to the cook in preparing perfect
and wholesome food. While those are to
| be obtained of well-established reputation
| like the Royal, of whose purity there has
never been question, it is proper to avoid
all others.