Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1888-03-30
DANGEROUS FOOD ADULTERATI0NS

THE FRAUDULENT USE OF ALUM AND LINE IN
CHEAP BAKING POWDERS.
If consumers prefer to buy an adul-
terated article of food because it can
be had at lower price they undoubt-
| eddy have the right to do so, provided
| the adulterants are not of 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 adulterated food arises from the de-
ception that is practiced by manufac-
turers usually chasing such goods as
pure. This is almost invariably done
when the adulterant is one that is in
furious to health. For instance, man
ufacturers 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 poison
Gus articles Most of these manufac-
turers 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 Pow
der itself. No consumer will buy alum
baking powders knowingly, for it is
well understood that they are detri-
mental to health The sale of lime
and alum baking powders as pure and
wholesome articles is, therefore, Grim
inal, and it is satisfactory to notice
that several persons engaged in such
sale have already been brought to JUS
tice in the courts.
The official analysts have recently
been active in the pursuit of these dis
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 a
suggestive fact that no baking pow
der except the Royal has been found
without either lime or alum, and ma
ny contain both. DR.. Prices baking
powder has been found to contain
nearly II per cent. of lime; Cleveland's
II per cent of impurities; the phos-
phate powders over 10 per cent. of
lime.
The chief service of lime is to add
weight. 1t is true that lime, when
subjected to heat, gives off certain
amount of carbonic acid gas, but
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, intestines and kidneys, more
particularly of infants and children,
and especially 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 emphatic condemnation from
food analysts, physicians and chem
lists, for the reason that, while alum
may be partially dissolved by the
heat Of baking it is impossible TO de
stroy or change the nature of the
lime so that the entire amount in the
baking powder passes, with all its i'm
purities, into the stomach.
The large profits from the manufac-
turers of lime and alum baking pow
ders has placed many of them in the
market. They are to be found in the
stock of almost every retail dealer,
and are urged upon customers calling
for baking powders upon all occasions.
Because of their well-known detrimen-
tai characterize desirable 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 well-estab-
lished reputation, like the Royal, of
whose purity there has never been a
question, it is proper to avoid all 9th
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