Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-03-30
Dangerous Food Adul.oration.
THE FRAUDULENT USE or ALUM AND LIME
IN CHEAP BAKING POWDERS.

THE FRAUDULENT USE OF ALUM AND LINZ
IN CHEAP BAKING POWDERS.
II consumers prefer to buy an adulterat-
cd article of food because it can be had at
a lower price they undoubtedly have the
right to do so, provided the adulteranis
are not Of a character injurious 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 illegitimate.
But the great danger in the traffic in
adnlterated food arises from the deception
that is practiced by manufacturers usual
ly chasing such goods as pure. This IS al
most invariably done when the adulterant
is one that is injurious to health. For IN
stance. 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 manuiac-
turers also claim that their articles
are pure and wholesome, while
some 90 still further and proclaim boldly
that they are cream of tartar goods, OF
even the genuine Royal Baking Powder
itself. No consumer will buy alum bak'
ing powders knowingly, FOR it is well I'M
derstood that they are detrimental 10
health. The sale Of lime and alum bak-
ing powders as pure and wholesome
articles is, therefore, criminal, and 1t 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.. Prices baking
powder has been found to contain nearly
70 per cent. Of lime; Cleveland's II per
cent. of impurities; the phosphate pow
ders over u per cent. of lime.
The chief service OF lime is to add
weight. 1t is true that lime, when sub
ected TO heat, gives off certain amount
Of carbonic acid gas, but quicklimo 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, intesHnes and kidneys
more particularly of infants and children
and especially when the lime is taker
into tho system day after day, and will
almost every meal. This is said by physi
clans to be one Of the causes Of indiges
ton, dyspepsia, and those painful disease
of the kidneys now so prevalent.
Adulteration with lime is quite as muel
to be dreaded az with alum, which ha
heretofore received the most emphati
condemnation from food analysts, physi
clans and chemists, for the reasons that
while alum may be partially dissolved b.
the heat of baking 1t is impossible to de
stroy or change the nature Of the lime
that the entire amount in the bakin
powder passes, with all its iniuriou
properties, into the stomach
The large profits from the manufactur
Of lime and alum baking powders ha
placed many of them in the market. The
are to be found in the stock Of almo'
every retail dealer, and are urged upo
customers calling for baking powder
upon all occasions. Because of their wei
known detrimental character it is desi
able that prompt means be taken to SUI
press their manufacture.
Pure baking powders are one OF tn
chief aids to the cook in preparing perie'
and wholesome food. While those are
be obtained Of well-established reputation
like the Royal, Of whose purity there Id
never been a question, it is proper to avol
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