St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-06-06
DANGEROUS FOOD ADULTER-
ALTON.
The Fraudulent Use of Alum and
Lime in Cheap Baking Pow

AhO II HduuhICub Use Ol AIuIH anu
Lime in Cheap Baking Pow
ders.
If consumers prefer to buy an adulter-
ated article of food because it can be
had at lower price. they undoubtedly
have the right to do so, provided the
, adulterants are not of a character in
furious to health. If such articles are
not falsely sold as pure, and the Gus
toner is not deceived as to their real
character, the transaction is not illegiti-
mate.
But the great danger in the traffic in
adulterated food arises from the decep-
ton that is practiced 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
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 proclaim
boldly that they are cream of tartar
goods, or even the genuine Royal Bak-
ing Powder itself. No consumer will
buy alum baking powder knowingly,
for it is well understood that they are
detrimental to health. The sale of lime
and alum baking powders as pure and
wholesome articles is, therefore. crimi-
nal, 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
hnhJl tIxvn inf hn 0f III
honest 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 suggest
i've fact that no baking powder except
the Royal has been found without either
lime or alum, and many contain 10th.
DR.. Prices Baking Powder has been
found to contain nearly ~ per cent of
lime; Cleveland's, IL per cent of impur-
tiles; the Phosphate Powders over IL
per cent of lime.
The chief service of lime is to add
weight. 1t is true that lime, when sub
Jected to heat. gives off a certain
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,
lnteStineS and kidneys, more particular
~ of infants and children, and especial
ly 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 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 en-
phatic condemnation from food analysts,
physicians aud chemists, for the reason
that while alum may be partially dis
solved by the heat of baking, it is inn
possible 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 stomach.
The large profit from the manufact-
ure 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-eStablished
reputation. like the Royal, of whose pu-
rity there has never been question, it
is proper to avoid all others.