The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-05-24
DANGEROUS Foo FOOD ADuLrERA'
The Fraudulent Use OF Alum and
Lime in Cheap Baking Powders.

III consumers prefer to buy an adul-
t.rated article of food because ii car
be had mt lower price, they un-
doubtedly have the right to 10 so
provided the authorizations are not ol
a character injurious to health. II
such articles are not falsely sold nj
pure, and the customer Is not deceiv.
ed ~ to their real character, the
transaction is not illegitinate.
But the great danger in the traffic
in adulterated food arises from the
deception that is practiced by manu-
factnrers usually chasing such goods
as pure. This is almost invariably
done when the adulterant il one that
is injurious to health. For instance,
manufacturers of Alum and lime bak.
ing powders not only fail to inform
the public of the real character oil
their goods. but carefully conceal the
fact that they are made from these
poisonous articles. Most of these
manufacturers also claim that their
articles are pure and wholesome,
while some 90 still farther and pro
claim boldly that they are cream Of
tartar goods. or even the genuine
Royal Baking Powder Itself. No con
sumner 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 arti.
ticles is, therefore, criminal, and il j,
satisfactory to notice that several
persons engaged in such sale have al.
ready been brought to justice IN the
courts,
The official analysts have recently
been active In the pursuit Of these
dishonest articles The baking pow
ders OF several States have been care,
fully and critically examined. The
officials are surprised at the large
amount of lime and alum goods found
1t is a suggestive fact that no baking
powder except the Royal has been
found without either lime o. alum
and many contain both. DR.. Prices
baking powder has been found to
contain nearly II per Gsnt, IF lime
Cleveland's II per cent. Of impurities;
the phosphate powders over IL pei
cent. Of lime.
The chief service of lime il to add
weight. 1t Is true that lime, when
subjected to heat. gives off q certain
amount Of carbonic acid gas. but q
uuic KLINE il left-a caustic OF most
powerful nature. 4 small quantity
Of dry lime upon the tongue, or in
the eys. produces painful effects: how
much more serious must these effect,
be on the d.liGnta membranes of the
stomach, intesffnes AnJ kidneys
more particularly Of infants and chill
dren. and especially when the lime i,
taken into the system day after day
and with almost every meal. This !,
said by physicians to be one Of thu
causes Of indigestion, dyspepsia: ~.
those painful diseases Of the kidneys
now 80 prevalent,
Adulteration with lime is quite al
much to be dreaded as with ALUM
which has heretofore received thu
most emphatic condemnation from
food analysts. physicians and chem
lists, for the reason that while alum
may be partially dissolved by tn,
heat of baking. it is impossible to de
etroy or change the nature Of tn,
lime 80 that the entire amount IN til,
baking powder passes, with all it, in
| furious properties. into the stomach
The large profits from the manu-
facture Of lime and alum baking pow
ders has placed many Of them in thu
market. They are to be found i'm til,
stock of almost every retail dealer
and are urged upon customers calm,
for baking powders upon all Occas
ions. Because of their well-knoWI
detrimental character it is desirable
that prompt means be taken to sup
press their manufacture.
Pure baking powders are one of thu
chief aids to the cook in preparing
perfect and wholesome food. While
those are to be obtained OF well es
tablished reputation, like the Royal
OF whose purity there has never beer
a question, it is proper to avoid al
others.