The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1888-05-04
DANGEROUS ADULTERATIoN.
The Fraudulent use Of Alum and
Lime n Cheap Baking Powders.

If consumers prefer 10 buy an adulter-
sied article Of food because 1t can 10 had
at lower price, they undoubtedly have
The right to do so, provided the adulterants
are not OF character injurious to health.
II such articles arc not falsely sold as pure,
and the customer Is not deceived as to
their real character, the transaction is not
illegitimate.
But the great danger 10 the traffic adul-
terated food arises from the deception tina
is practised by manufacturers usually
CHASING such goods as pure. This is al
most invariably done when the adulterant
Is one that is injurious to health. For in
stance, manufacturers 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 their articles are pure aud wholesome.
while some 60 still further and proclaim
boldly that they arc cream Of tartar goods,
or even the genuine ROYAL Baking Pow.
der itself. No consumer will buy alum
baking powders knowingly, for it is well
understood that they are detrimental 10
health. The sale of lime and alum baking
powders 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 10 justice
in the courts.
The official analysis have recently been
active in the pursuit of these dishonest ar.
ticles The baking powders of several
States have been carefully and critically
examined. The fficials arc surprised
at the large amount of lime and alum
goods found. 1t is suggestive fact that
no baking powder except the Royal has
been found without either lime or alum,
and may contain both. Dr. Prices baking
powder has been found to contain nearly
10 per cent Of lime; Cleveland's II per
cent of impurities; the phosphate powders
over IL per cent Of limo.
The chief service of lime is to add weight
1t is true that lime, when subjected to heat
gives off certain amount of carbonic acid
gas, but quick lime is left-a caustic of
most powerful nature. A small quantity
Of dry lime upon the tongue, or in the eye,
produces painful effects; how much more
serious must these effects be on the delicate
membranes Of the stomach, intestines and
kidneys, moro particularly of infants and
children, and especially when the lime is
taken day after day. and with almost every
meal. This is said by physicians to be one
cause o. i.iii ycs'iol dyspepsia. and tho sc
painful diseases cf the kidneys now so
prevalent.
Adulterstion with lime is quite as much
70 be dreaded as with alum, which has
heretofore received the most emphatic con.
domination from food analysis. physicians
and chemists. 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 baking powder passes, with
all its injurious properties, into the stom.
sch.
The large profits from the manufacture
If lime and alum baking powders has
placed many Of them in the market. They
are to be found in tho stock of almsst every
retail dealer, and orc urged upon customers
calling for baking powders upon all occa.
aions. Because of their well known detri-
mental character il is desirable that prompt
means be taken TO suppress their man,ifac-
lure.
Pure baking powders arc one Of the chief
aids to the cook in preparing perfect and
wholesome food. While those are TO be
obtained of wellcstablishcd reputation.
like the Royal. of whose purity there has
never been question. 1t is proper to avoid
81 others.
Ladies' get YOUR Ribbons at d