Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-04-28
DANGEROUS FOOD ADULrERA-
TON.
The Fraudulent Use Of Alum and Lime
in Cheap Baking Powders.

Ii consumers prefer to buy an adulterated
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
q character injurious to health. If such ar
ticles are not falsely sold as pure and the
customer is not deceived as to their real
character, the transaction is not illegifimate.
| But the great danger in the traffic in adul.
| teratsd food arises from the deception that il
| practiced by manufacturers usually chasing
such goods as pure. This is almost invaria
bly, done when the adulterant is one that i.
| injurious to health. For instance, manufac-
turers of alum and lime baking powders moi
only fail to inform the public of the real
character of their goods, but carefully con-
ceal the fact that they are made from these
poisonous articles. Most of these manufac-
turers also claim that their articles are
pure and wholesome, while some go still fur
Their 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
well understood that thev are detrimental To
health. The sale of lime and alum baking
powders as pure and wholesome articles 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 arti-
cles. 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. IT is a sug-
gestive fact that no baking powder except the
Royal has been found without either lime or
| alum, and many contain both. DIR. Prices
baking powder has been found to contain near
ly ~ per cent of lime Clevelands ii per
cent of impurities; the phosphate powders
over IL 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 quck-lime is left-a caustic of
most powerful nature. A small quantity of
dry lime upon the tongue, or in the eye, pro-
duces painful effects; how much more Sc
rous 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 physi-
clans 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 hereto
fore received the most emphatic condemna-
ton from food anal sts, ply sicians and chem
lists 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, so 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 have 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. Be-
cause of their well known detrimental char
acter, it is 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 OBJ
tanned of wellestabished reputation, like
the Royal, of whose purity there has never
been question, it is proper to avoid all
others.
One of the oldest and most celebrated
hotels in this country is the Revere House,
Boston, which has probably entertained more
distinguished people than any other Amer-
can hotel. Paran Stevens, who founded it,
gave it worldwide reputation for refined
elegance and delicious fare, reputation
which has been maintained throughout its
career; and today it is the favorite resort of
those who most fully appreciate the good
things of this life. Mr.. John F. Morrow,
the present proprietor, is one of the most
popular and efficient of hotel men, and well
sustains the pre-eminence of this famous
hOstplry