West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1888-04-13
DANGEROUS FOOD ADULTER-
ALTON.

DANGEROUS FOOD ADULTER-
ALTON.
The Fraudulent use of Alum and Lime in
Cheap Baking Powders.
If consumers prefer to buy an ad-
ulterate article offood because it can
be had at a lower price they undoubt-
edly have the right to do 80, provided
the adulterants are not of q charac-
ter injurious to health. If such arti-
cles are 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 in the traffic
in adulterated food arises from the
deception that is practiced by manu-
ufacturers usually CHASING such
goods as pure. This is almost inva-
riably 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 charac-
ter of their goods, but carefully con-
ceal 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
proclaim boldly that they are cream
of tartar goods, or even the genuine
Royal Baking Powder itself. No con.
sumer 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 ar
ticles is, therefore, criminal, and it
is satisfactory to notice that several
persons engaged in such sale have
already been brought to justice in
the court.
The official analysts have recently
been active in the persuit of these
dishonest articles. The baking pow
ders of several States have been
carefully and critically examined.
The officials are surprised at the
large amount oflime and alum goods
found. 1t is suggestive fact that no
baking powder except the Royal has
been found without either lime or
alum, and many contain both. DIR.
Prices baking powder has been
found to contain nearly IL per cent.
of lime: Cleveland's IL per cent. Of
impurities; the phosphate powders
over IL per cent. of lime.
The chief service of lime is to add
weight. 1t is true that lime, when
subjected to heat, gives off a 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. produces painful effect; how
much more serious must these effects
be on the delicate membranes Of the
stomach, intestines and kidneys,
more particularly of infants and chill
dren, and especially when the lime
is taken into the system day after
day, and with almost every meal.
This is said by physicians to be one
of the causes ofindigestion, dyspep-
sia, 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, physicians and chem
lists, for the reason that, while alum
may be partially dissolved by the
heat of baking is Impossible 10 de-
stroy or change the nature OF the
lime so that the entire amount in the
baking powder passes, with all its in
furious properties, into the stomach.
The large profits from the manu-
facture OF lime and alum baking pow
ders has placed many Of them in the
market. They are to be found in the
stock Of almost every retail dealer,
and are urged upon customers call
ing for baking powders upon all oc-
casions. Because Of their we'll
known detrimental character it is
desirable that prompt means be TAX
en- to suppress their manufacture.
Pure baking powders are one Of
the chief aids to the cook in prepar-
ing perfect and wholesome food.
While those are to be obtained Of
we'll established reputation, like the
Royal, Of whose purity there has
never been a question, it is proper
to avoid all others.