Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-05-16
DANGEROUS FOOD ADULTERArIoN.
Tho Frsdulent use of Alum and Limo in
H. Cheap Baking Powders. ~


Cheap Baking Powders.
Il consumers prefer to buy an adulterated
er price, they undoubtedly have the right to
do so, provided the adulterants are not of a
character Injurious to health. II such arti
toner is not deceived as to their real charac-
ter, the transaction is not illegitimate.
But the great danger in the tradac in adul.
sing such goods as pure. This 10 almost in
varib!y done whom the and adulterant is one
that y injurious to health. For instance,
powders not only fail TO inform the public Of
the real character of their goods. but care
fully conceal the TACT that they are made
manufacturers also claim that their articles
are pure and wholesome, while some 20 still
further and proclaim boldly that they are
Baking
for it is well understood that they are detri,
mental TO the health. The sale Of lime and
alum baking powders as pure and wholesome
articles is therefore, criminal, and 1t is satis-
factory to notice that several engaged in such
sale have already been brought to justice in
The official analysts have recently been
active y the pursuit of these dishonest arti-
cles. The baking powders of several states
have been carefully and critically examined.
of lime and alum goods found. 1t is a sug-
gestiye fact that no baking powder except
the Royal has been found without either
lime or alum, and many contain both. DR..
Prices baking powder mas been found to con.
| tain nearly IL per cent. Of lime; Cleveland &
II per cent of impurities :the phosphate powd-
ers over Hper cent. Of lime.
| The chief service of lime is to add weight.
| 1t Is true that lime, when subjected to heat,
gives on certain amount of carbonic acid
gas, buta Quick-lime Is ieft-a caustic of most
powerful nature. A small quantity of dry
| lime upon the tongue, or in the eye, produces
painful effects; now much more serious
must these effects be on the delicate mem.
| branes of the stomach, intestines and kid.
neys. more particularly of infants and child
| ren, andespecially when the lime is taken in
| to the system day after day, and with almost
every meal. This is said by physicians to be
| one of tie causes of Indigestion, dyspepsia,
and those painful diseases of the kidneys now
| 30 prevalent.
Aduitsration with lime is quite as much to
| be dreaded as with alum, which has hereto
| fore received the most emphatic condemna-
| ton from food analysts, 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 line so that the entire amount in the
! baking powder passes, with all its injurioua
properties, into the stomach.
The large profits from the manufacture of
lime AMI alum baking powders has placed
many ofthem in the market. They are to be
| found p the stock of almost every retail
dealer, and are urged upon the consumers
calling for baking powders upon all occasions
Because OF their well-known detrimental
character it is desirable that prompt means
be takento suppress their manufacture.
Pure mking powders are one of the chief
Wholesome food. While those are to be Oh
tanned ofwell-established reputation like the
Royal, ofwhose purity there has never beer
a question, it is proper to avoid all others.