The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-04-26
DANGEROU FOOD ADULTERA-
TTON
The Fraudulent use Of Alum and Lime In
Cheap Baking Powders.

The Fraudulent use of Alum and Limo in
Cheap Baking Powders.
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 80, provided the
are not OF a character inju-
rious to health, If such articles are not
falsely sold as pure and the customer is
not deceived as to their real character,
the transaction is not illegimate.
But the great danger in the traffic in
adulterated food arises from the de-
ception that is practiced by manufact-
urers usually CHASING such goods as
pure. This is almost invariably done
when the adulterant is one that is inju-
rious TO health. For instance, manu-
facturers of alum and lime baking pow
ders not only fail to inform the public
of the real character Of their goods, but
conceal the fact that they are
made of 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 Baking
Powder itself, No consumer will buy
alum baking powders knowingly, for II
is well understood that they are detri
mental to the health. The sale of lime
and alum baking powders rs 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 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 a suggestive fact
that no baking powder except the Royal
has been found without either lime or
alum, and many contain both. DR..
Pierces baking powder has been
found to contain nearly IL per cent. OF
lime; CIeveland's II per cent. OF impuri
ties; 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
amount Of carbolic acid gass, but q
auicklime is left-a caustic of most pow
eriul nature. A small quantity Of dry
lime upon the tongue, or in the eye,
produces painful effec 8; how much
more serious must these effects be on the
delicate membranes Of the stomach, in
testines and kedneys, more particularly
OF infants and children, and especially
when the lime ia taken into the system
day after day, and with almost every
meal. This is said ny physicians to be
one Of the causes OF indigestion, dyspep
sia, and those painful diseases now 40
prevalent.
Adulteration with lime is quite as
much TO be dreaded as with alum, which
has heretofore received the most en-
oh tic condemnation from food analysts
physicians and chemists, for the reason
that, while alum may be partially dis
solved by the heat of baking it is impos-
sibIe to destroy or change the nature OF
the lime so that the entire amount in
the baking powder passes, with all lite
injurious properties, into the stomach
The large profits from the manufac-
ture 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
powd era 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 coUk in preparing per-
feet and wholesome Food. While those
are to be obtained of we'll established
reputation, like the Royal, of whose pu-
rity there has never been a question, il
is proper to avoid all others.