The Press., 1888-06-14
Dangerous Food AduIteratlon.
THE FRAUDULENT USE OF ALUM AND LIME IN
 CHEAP BAKING POWDERS

THE FRAUDULENT USE OF ALUM AND LIME IN
 CHEAP BAKING POWDERS.
 If consumers prefer to buy an adulterated article of food because it can be had at a low CT price, they undoubtedly have the right to do so, providing the aduherants are not of a character injurious to health. If such arti- cles are not falsely sold as pure, and the GUS toner is not deceived as to their real charac- ter, the transaction is not illegitimate.
 But the great danger in the traffic in adul- terated food arises from the deception that is practiced by manufacturers usually chasing such goods as pure. This is almost invaria- ply done when the adulterant is one that is injurious to health. For instance, manufac- turers of alum and lime baking powders not only fail to inform the public of the real char acter of 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 whole some, while some go still further and pro- clam 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 we'll un- derstood that they are detrimental to health. The sale of lime and alnm baking powders as pure and wholesome articles. is, therefore, criminal, and it is satisfactory to notice that several persons engaged in such sale have al-
 
 The official analysts have recently been active in the pursuit of these dishonest arti- cles. The baking powders of several states have been carefully and critically examined. The officials are surprised at the large amount of lime and alum goods found. It is a sug- gestive fact that no baking powder except the Royal has been found without either lime or alum, and many contain both. Dr. Prices baking powder has been found to contain rlr OF l1a 1 per cent. of impurities the phosphate pow ders over 12 per cent. of lime.
 The chief service of lime is to add weight. It is true that lime, when subjected to heat, gives of 8 certain amount of carbonic acid gas, but a quick-lime is left-a caustic of most powerful nature. A small quantity of dry lime upon the tongue, or in the eye, pro duces painful effects; how much more se- rious 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 day, and with almost every meal This is said by physi- clans to be one of the causes of indigestion, dyspepsia, and those painful diseases of the kidneys now so prevalent.
 Adulteration with lime is quite as much to be dreaded as with alum, which has hereto fore received the most emphatic condemna- tion from food analysts, physicians and chem ists, for the reason that while alum may be partially dissolved by the heat of baking it is impossible to destroy or change the nature of the lime so that the entire amount in the bak- ing powder passes, with all it's injurious prop critics, 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 deal CT, and are urged upon customers calling for baking powders upon all occasions. Because of their well-known detrimental character it is desirable that prompt means be taken to suppress 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 ob- tained of well-established reputation, like the Royal, of whose purity there has never been 8 question, it is proper to avoid all others.