The Press., 1888-05-17
TIE ALUm BAKING POWDERS.
Action Of the Massachusetts Board of
 Health.


 THE NAMES OF THE ALUM BRANDS PUBLIsHED- THE METHODS BY WHICH THEY ARE SOLD NECESSITY FOR NATIONAL PcRE FooD LAW.
 The Massachusetts s'ate board of health, like the state food commission of Ohio, pub fishes the names of the alum powders found on sale within it's jurisdiction as the most et- fective way to prohibit the sale of what it classes as detrimental article of food.
 The report names twenty seven brands of alum baking powders detected, many of which will be recognized by housekeepers who have been using them und-r the repre- sentation that they were pure and wholesome cream of tarter baking powders.
 Being cheapIy made these goods are sold to the retail dealer at price that affords him large profit, and the retail dealer, probably unaware of tlieir nature, is induced to push their sale in place of pure powders upon wh ch the profits are smaller. In this way they are being paced in considerable quanti- ties into the hands of consumers who have not suspicion of their real character.
 Alum baking powders have been legally declared adulterated articles of food in the state of New York, and several parties have been convicted of violating the food adultera- tion laws in selling them.
 The prevalant method of disposing of these goods where it is not prohibited by law, is by accompanying each package with gift or lot tery ticket. In several states acts have been passed making this misdemeanor. In such localities manufacturers of alum baking pow ders who regard the law have been compelled to reduce the price from 30 or 40 to 20 cents per pound at which rate they are now gen erally sold without @ gift As an illustration of the low value of the alum baking powders, the fact is stated that one of them, no worse than the others, is sold at cents pound. The extent to which the poorer classes, who are the chief users are imposed upon when they are charged from 20 to 40 cents for a similar article is quite apparetnt.
 The following are the names of the alum baking powders as given by the reports ot the Massachusetts State Board of Health Davis's, A. &P. Henkle, State,
 Silver Star, Silver King, Ne Plus Ultra, welcome, Enterprise, Old colony, | Can't Be Beat Crystal,
 Eureka Ccntennia | Puritan. Windsor,
 l Albany Favoritc, Sovereign, BUrnett's ] 's" Perfect, Geo. Washington, Forest City. < Fleur de Lis, Feather Weight.
 While many of the alum baking powders named are only known locally, others arc found in almost all sections of the country Those of largest sale are made Ill New York
 
 by the Ohio and Massachusetts state authori ties, wi not insure against the use of the ob | iectionable articles altogether, for the manu lecturers when the fact is published that 6 particular brand contains alum, will simply change the nallg, and the sale goes on as be fore. Large quantities of these goods are also sold in bulk; by weight, while there are hun dreds of different, brands put up by small dealers in different parts of the country where the public analyst is not yet known. 1 Official examinations like those by the Massachusetts and Ohio authorities, which give reliable information as to the real qual lties of articles of food and furnish guide by which consumers can determine the pure and wholesome from the impure and dangerous without chance of mistake, are Ofgreat public l benefit -.5'tt,
 The Massachusetts analysts have tested the various cream of tartar and phosphate baking powders sold in the state, and their report that the Royal baki powder is superior tt |, all others in purity and wholesomeness, anC contains nearly 20 per cent more strength than any other, is quite as important to con Esumers as the information relating to tht alum powders. The exact determination as to strength of the several brands was as fol l lows, the figures representing the mum Der O cubic inches of leavening gas from one ounce of powder Royal, 125.15; Cleveland's, 107. z Congress, 81.2; Horsford's, 95.1. A very earnest effort is being made to Sc cure the passage by Congress of law tha shall foster the trade in pure food. The pro posed law provides for the examination O. manufactured articles of food, drink ant drugs, and for the publication, in the manner already adopted in Ohio and Massachusetts of the names of those brands found adulter ated or injurious to health. A law of thi character, that shall impose suitable penalties upon importers and manufacturers of sucl commodities, will be of vital importance tt the whole country.
 A society lady recently badgering Generi Greedy of the weather bureau assured hin that although ''the freezing point was thirty two, the squeezing point was two in the shade. The general, being married, excused himself
 Never before in the history of this country has such systematic effort been made to cheap en food products by the introduction of in jurious adultefants. Lard made by Sperry Barnes is warranted free from cotton-see( oil, barJ tes, tallow or any other mineral.
 The Population of Stafford is about 5000 and we would say at least one-half are troubl ed with some aff. ction of the throat anC lungs, as those complaints are, according tc statistics, more numerous than others w would advise all our readers not to neglec the opportunity to call on their druggist anC get bottle of Kemp's Balsam for the Throa and Lungs. Trial size free. Large bottles 5Oc. and $1. Sold by all druggists.
 I suffered from acute inflammation in m, nose and head-for week at time I could not see. used Ely's Cream Balm and in few days was cured 1t is wonderful hoy