Morris tribune., 1888-05-23
DANGEROUS FOOD ADuLTERATloN,
The fraudulent use Of Alum and Lime IN
Baking Powders.

tUo TFMuutUUt use " HtuHi oHa s
Baking Powders.
II consumers prefer to buy an al
liberated article of food because It Cal
be had ut lower price, they undouDt
eddy have the right to do so, proVide'
the atlulterants are not of u characte
injurious to health. If such articles
are not falsely SO pure, and the Gus
toner Is not deceived rs to their rea
character, the transaction is not lille
ultimate.
+ But the great hanger in the trah'
in aduiterated food arises from the
deception that il practised by manu-
lecturers usually chasing such goous
rs pure. This is almost invariably
done when the adulterant is one thai
In injuri,,ns to health. For instance,
manufacturers OF alum and lime bak-
ing powders not only tail 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
nlanufaci urers also claim that their
articles are pure and wholesome,
while some go still further and pro-
claim boldly they are cream OF tartar
goods, or even the genuine Royai
Baking Powder itself. No consumer
will buy alum baking powders know
ingIy, for II Is well understood that
they are detrimental to health. The
sale Of lime and alum baking powders
~ pure aud wholesome articles Is,
therefore, criminal, and 1t IL satisfac.
tory to notice that several persons
engaged in such sale have already
been brought to justice in the courts.
The official analyst have recently
been active in the pursuit Qfthase dis
honest articles. The baking powders
of several States have been carefully
and critically examined. The officials
are surprised ut tho large amount of
lime and alum goods found. It 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 bak-
ing powder has been found to contain
nearly IL per cent. Of lime; Cleye-
lands II per eeHt. Of Impurities the
phosphate powders over II per cent Of
lime.
The chief service Of lime is to add
weight. tits true that lime, when
subjected to heat, gives off certain
of earhonio aeid gas, but a
quicklime Is left-aa oaustic 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
intestines and kidneys,
more particularly OF Infants and
and especially when the
lime is taken into the system day af.
ter day, and with almost every meal.
This is sal 4 by physicians to be one
Of the causes of indigestion, dyspepsia
and those painful diseases of the
kidneys now so prevalent. 4
Adultcration with lime Is quite as
much to be dreaded as with alumni,
which has heretofore received the,
most emphatic condemnation from
'ood analysts, physicians and chem.
stg, for tha Eeasna that while alumni
may be partially dissolved by the
ieat OF baking it Is impossible to. de-
stroy or change the nature of the lime
20 that the entire amount In the bak-
ng powder passes, with all its in
urious properties, into the STOMACH.
The large Profits from the manu-
'actqre Of lime and alumni baking
has placed many of them in
he market. They are to be found
IN the stock Of almost every retail
lealer, aud are urged upon customers
Ealing for baking powders upon all
occasions. Because of their well
known detrimental character it is de-
sirable that prompt means be taken
TO suppress their manufacture.
Pure baking powders are one of the
chief aids to the cook in preparing
perfect and wholesome food. While
those are to be obtained Of we'll
reputation, like the Royal
Of whose purity there has never been
q question, It Is proper to avoid all
others.