Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1888-04-06
DANGEROUS FOOD ADuLrERA.
TON.
The Fraudulent use Of Alum and
Lime in Cheap Baking
Powders.

If consumers prefer TO buy an adul-
terated article of food because il can
be had at lower price, they UNI
doubleday have the right to do so,
provided the adulterants are not OF
a character injurious to death. Ii
such articles are not falsely sold as
pure, and the customer is not de-
ceivcd as to their real character, the
transaction is not illegitimate.
But the great danger in the traffic
in adulterated food arises from the
deception that is practised by manu-
facturers usually CHASING such goods
as pure. This is almost invariably
done when the adulterant is 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 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 wholesome,
while some go still further and pro-
claim boldly that they are cream OF
tartar goods, or even tho genuine
ROyl 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-
ces is, therefore, criminal, and tt is
satisfactory TO notice that several per-
sons engaged IN such sale have al
ready been brought TO justice in the
courts.
The official analysists have recently
been active in the pursuit Of these
dishonest articles. The baking pow
ders of several States have b9en care
fully and critically examined. The |
large amount of lime and alum goods |
found. 1t is suggestive fact that
no baking powder except the Royal
has been found with either lime or
alum, and may contain both. DIR.
Prices baking powder was found to
contain nearly u per cent of lime;
Cleveland's II per cent. of impurities
the phosphate powders over Il per
cent. of lime,
The chief service Of limo Is TO add
weight. 1t is true that lime, when
ubjected to heat, gives Off a certain
mount of carbonic acid gas, but
Iuicklime is left-a caustic of most
powerful nature. A small quantity of
Try lime upon the tongue, or in the
ye, produces painful effects; how
much more serious must these
fleets be on the delicate membranes
# the stomach, intestines and kidneys,
more particularly of infants and chill
ren, and especially when the lime is
AIKEN into the system day after day,
nd with almost every meal. This is
aid by physicians to be one of the {
auses of indigestion, dyspepsia, ana q
lose painful diseases of the kidneys
ow SO prevalent.
Adulteration with lime is quite as I
uch to be dreaded as with alum,
hich has heretofore received the
ost emphatic condemnation from
'od ANALYSTS, physicians and chem
Is, for the reason that while alum T,
ay be partially dissolved by the heat ,,
baking it is impossible to destroy
: change the nature of the lime SO
lat the entire amount in the baking
owder passes, with all its injuries
into the stomach.
The large profits from the manufac-
ure of lime and alum baking pow
ers has placed many of them in the
market. They are to be found in the
took of almost every retail dealer,
nd are urged upon customers calling
Or baking powders upon all occas-
Ons. Because of their well known
detrimental character it is desirable
hat prompt means be taken to sup
,ress their manufacture.
Pure baking powders are one of the
hief aids TO the cook in preparing
perfect and wholesome food. While
hose are to be obtained of well-estab-
ished reputation, like the Royal, OF
whose purity there has never been a
question, it is proper to avoid all
others.