The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-04-26

The Fraud lent Use Of Alum au d
Lime in Cheap Baking Powders

The Fraud uIent Use OF Alum ard ,
Lime in Cheap Baking Powders
If consumers prefer to buy an adul-
terated article OF food because it can he
had at lower price they undoubtedly
have the right to do so provided the
lterants are not of character in
furious to health. If such are not
falsely sold as pure and the customer
is not deceived as , their real charac-
ter, the transaction ia not illegitimate.
But the great danger in the traffic in
aiulteratad food arises from the decep>
tion that is practiced by ma iaciur-
ers usually ciassipg such goc a pure.
This is almost invariably done when
the adulterant is one that is Injurious
TO health. For instance, manufacture
ers 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
that these articles are pure and whole.
some, while some go still further and
proclaim boldly that they are cream of
tartar goods, or even the genuine Royal
Baking Powder itself. No consumer
will buy alum baking powders know
ingly, for it is we'll understood that
they are detrimental 10 health. The
sale of lime and alum baking powders
as pure and wholesome articles is
therefore, criminal, and 1t is sstisfac
tory to notice that several persons en-
gagged in such sale have already beer
brought to justice in the courts
, The official analysts have recently
been active in the pursuit of thest
dishonest articles. The baking pow
, ders of several States have been care
fully and critically examined. Th
officials are surprised at the larg
amount of lime and alum goods found
1t is suggestive fact that no baking
powder except the Royal has beel
i found without either lime or alum AN,
u many contain both. Dr. Prices bak
ing powder has been found to contain
y nearly IL per cent of lime; Cleveland
IL per cent of impurities; the phos
p phate powders over IL per cent of lime
The chief service of lime is to ad
u weight. 1t Is true that lime, whe
. subjected to heat, gives off a certai
i amount of carbolic acid gas, but
: quicklime js left-a caustic of mOi
powerful nature. A small quantity {
; dry lime upon the tongue, or in th
eye, produces painful effects; no,
10 much more serious must these effect
be on the delicate membranes of th
i stomach, intestines and kidneys, NOR
y particularly of infants and children
and especially when the lime is take
:, into, the system day after day, an
u with almost every meal, This is sal
L by physicians to be one of the cause
of indigestion, dyspepsia, and thos
% painful discs ses of the kidneys now s
% prevalent.
l. Adulteration with Time is quite {
70 much 10 be dreaded ss with alum
% which has heretofore received tt
most emphatic condemnation frol
b food analysts, physicians and chen
a lists, for the resson that, while alul
g. msy be pai itially dissolved by the be,
to of baking, it is impossible TO destro
le or change the nature Of the lime
n hat the entire amount in the bakir
ID powder passes, with all its injuriol
d properties, into the stomach.
i, The large profits from the manufa
N ture of lime and alum baking powde
o. has placed many of them on the ma
t. ket. They are to be found il the stoc
Ell of almost every retail dealer, and a
a, urged upon customers calling for ba
a. ing powders upon all occasions. b
cause of their we'll known detriment
Mt character it is desirable that prom
It means be taken to suppress their ma
as ufacture.
g. Pure baking powders are one of Il
i. chief aids to the cook in preparir
perfect and wholesome food. Whi
those are to be obtained of we'll .esta
!, iished reputation. like the Royal,
- whose purity there has meyer been
IA question, it is proper to avoid g
others.