The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1888-06-14
DANGEROUS FOOD ADULTERA-
TION.
The FRAUDULENT USE OF ALUM AND LIME
IN CHEAP BAKING POWDERS.

If consumers prefer to buy an adulter-
ated article of food because it can be had
at a lower price, they undoubtedly have
the right to do SO, provided the adulter-
ants are not of a character injurious to
health. IF such articles are not falsely
sold as pure, ard the customer is not &c
ceived as to their real character, the
transaction is not illegitimate.
But the great danger IN the traffic in
adulterated food arises from the decep-
ton that Is practised by manufacturers
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 baking powders not only
fail to inform the public of the real char
acter OF their goods, but carefully con-
ceal the fact that they are made from
these poisonous articles. Most CT these
manufacturers also claim that their arti-
cles are pure and wholesome, 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 viii buy alum baking pow
ders knowingly, for it is well understood
that they are detrimental to health.
The sale of lime and alum baking pow
ders as pure and wholesome articles is,
therefore, criminal, and it is satisfactory
to notice that several persons engaged IN
such sale have already been brought to
justice IN the courts.
The official analysts have recently been
active in the pursuit of these dishonest
articles. 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. 1t is q suggestive fact that no
baking powder except the Royal has
been found without either lime or alum,
and many contain both. DR.. Prices ball-
ing powder has been found to contain
nearly u per cent. of lime; Cleveland's
IL per cent. Of impurities; the phosphate
powders over u per cent. of lime.
qhe chief service OF lime is to add
weight 1t is true that lime, when sub
jeCted to heat, gives off certain amount
of carbonic acid gas, but qulck-llme Is
left-a caustic OF most powerful nature.
\ small quantity of dry lime upon the
tongue, or in the eye produces painful eff
fects; 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 WueQ lDc 1illIc II ldhSl lIIO
the system day after day, and with almost
every meal This is said by physicians
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
heretofore received the most emphatic
condemnation from food analysts, physi-
clans and chemists, for the reason that
while alum may be partially dissolved by
the heat of baking it is impossible to de-
stroy or change the nature of the lime SO
that the entire amount in the baking
powder passes, with all its injurious pro-
perties, 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 al
most every retail dealer, and are urged
upon customers calling for baking pow
ders 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 per-
feet and wholesome food. While those
are to be obtained of well-estabhshed re-
putation, like the Royal, of whose purity
there has never been a question, it Is
proper to avoid all Others.