Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-03-17
DANGEROUS FOOD ADULTERA TON.
The Fraudulent use of Alum and
Kline In Cheap Baking Powders.

IF consumers prefer to buy an aduterated
article of food because it can be had at q
lower price they undoubtedly have the
right to do so, provided the adulterants are
not of character Injurious TO health. Ii
snch articles are not falsely sold as pure and
the customer is not deceived as TO their
real character, the transaction ia not illeglt-
innate.
But the great danger in the traffic in
sdulterated food arises from the deception
that is practced by manufacturers usually
chasing such goods as pure. This is almost
Invariably done when the adulterant is one
that ia injurious to health. For instance,
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 manufacturers also claim that their
articles are pure and wholesome, while
some 90 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 It is we'll understood that
they are detrimental to health. The
sale of lime aud alum baking powders "a
pure and wholesome artices is, therefore,
criminal 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 ar,l-
Giles. The baking powders of several States
have been carefully and critically examined.
The officials are surprise at tholarge amount
of lime and alum goods found. 1t is q sug
gestive 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 y per cent. of lime; Cleve-
lands IL per cant. Of impurities; the phos
phate powders over IL per cent. of lime.
The chief service of lime is to add weight.
1t is true that lime, when subj cted to heat,
gives of certain amount of carbonic acid
gas, but q 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 indi-
gestion. dyspepsia, and those painful dis
eases of the kidneys now so prevalent.
Adulteration with lime is quite as much
to be dreaded as with alum, which has here
tofore received the most emphatic condem-
nation 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 lime 80 that the entire
amount in the baking powder passes, with
all its injurious properties, into the stomach.
The large profits from the manufacture Of
lime and alum baking powders has placed
many of them in the market. They are 10
be found in the stock of almost every retail
dealer, and are urged upon customers call
ing for baking powders upon all occasions.
Because of their wel!-known detrimental
character it is desirable that prompt meane
be taken to suppress their manufacture.
Pure baking powders ere one of the chief
aids to the cook in preparing perfect and
wholesome food. While those are to be OBJ
tanned of well-established reputation, like
the Royal, Of whose purity there has never
been question, it is proper to avoid all
others.