Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1888-05-26
DANGEROUS FOOD AoulrsaArxoNs.
The fr. uduisnt rse OF Alum and Lime In
Cbesp Baking Powder.

n consumers p refer TO buy an aduiterated
article OF food because 10 can De had at
lower price, they undoubtedly have the
right 20 do so. provided the aduiteranis are
not Of character injurious 10 health. IL
such articles are not falsely sold ss pure,
aud the customer is not deceived a. TO their
real character. the Transaction Is not He
gllnste.
BIT the great danger IN the traffic in
adulterated food arises from the deception
that Is practissd by manufacturers usually
chasing such goods as pure. This Is al
most invariably done when the adulterant
i one that Is injurious 10 health. For in
stance, manufacturers OF alum and lime
baking powders not only fail 10 inform the
pnbhc OF the real character OF their goods.
bat carefully conceal the fact that they are
made from thes poisonous articles. Most
Of these manufacturers also claim that
their articles are pura and wholeso me,
while some 20 sill farther and proclaim
boldly that they are cream Of tartar goods.
or even the genuine Royal Baking Powder
itself No consumer will buy alum baking
powder knowingly; foritis well understood
that they are detrimental To health. The
sale Of lime and alum baking powders as
purs and wholesome articles 10. therefore,
criminal. and II Is satisfactory TO notice
that several persons engaged in such sale
have already been brought to justicei In the
courts.
The Official analysts have recently been
active ia the pursuit OF these dishonest arti-
eles. The baking powders OF several States
have been carefully and critically exam
med. The officials are surprised at the
large amount Of lime and alum goods
found. II Is suggestive fact that no bak-
| ing powder except the Royal has been
| found without either lime or alum. and
many contain both. DR.. Prices baking
| powder has been found 10 contain nearly
| Il per cent. of lime, Clsvelsnd's IL per
cenL of impurities; the phosphate powders
over II per cent. Of lime.
The chief service OF lime Is TO add weight.
II il true that lime. when subjected 10 heat,
/ gives OF a certain amount OF carbonic acid
| gas. but a quick-lime Is left-a caustic 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
| kidneys, more particularly Of infants and
| children. and especially when the lime is
taken into the system day after dav. and
with almost every meal. This Is said by
| physicians 10 be one Of the causes of indi-
gestion. dyspepsia aHd those painfu. diseases
| cf the kidneys now SO prevalent.
Adnlteration with lime is quite as much
20 be dreaded "a with alum, which has
| herstof0re received the most emphatic con-
dsmnation from food analysts. physicians
and chemists. for the reason that while alum
may be partially dissolved by the heat OF
baking II is impossible % destroy or chan ge
the nature Of the lime so that the entire
amount in the baking powder passes, with
all lie injurious properties. into the stomach.
The large profits from the manufacture OF
lime and alum baking powders hiss placed
l many N them in The ruerkat They are 10
be found in the stock of almost every retail
dealer. and are urged upoa customers call
ing for baking powders upon all occasions
Because Of their we'll known detrimental
character il is desirable that prompt means
be taken 70 suppress their manufacture.
Pure baking 20 rders are one Of the chic
aids 10 tbs COOK 40 preparing perfect and
wholesoms food. While those are 20 be
obtained OF well established reputation
ike the Royal. OF whose purity there has
never been : question, Il IS proper 10 avoid
1 NJ others