Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-03-15
INSTRUMENTATION ADULTERATION.
The Fraudulent Use OF Alum and
Lime In Cheap Bahing-POudcrs.

II consumers prefer TO buy an adulte-
rated article of food because it can he
had at lower price they undoubtedly
have the right TO do 80. provided the
adulterants are not OF character injurl-
ous TO health. IL such articles are not
falsely sold as pure and the customer IL
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 decep-
ton that is practiced by manufacturers
usually chasing such goods as pure. This
is almost invariably done when the adul-
terant is one that is injurious to health.
For instance. manufacturers of alum and
lime baking powders not only fail to in
form the public of the real character OF
their goods, but carefully conceal the
fact that they are made from these poi
sonOus articles. Most OF these manu-
facturers 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 gen
uiue Royal Baking Powder itself. No
consumer will buy alum baking-pOwders
knowingly. for it is well understood that
they are detrimental to health. The sale
Of lime and alum baking powders as pure
and wholesome articles is therefore crlml-
nal, 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 dis
honest articles. The bsking-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 sug-
gestive fact that no baking-powder ex-
cept the Royal has been found without
either lime or alum, and many 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 phosphate powders
over II per cent of lime.
The chief service of lime is 10 add
weight. 1t is true that lime, when sub
jected 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 mem
branes of the stomach, iDtestines, and
kidneys, more pariicularlyof 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 in
digestion, dyspepsia, and those painful
diseases OF the kidneys now so prevalent.
Adulteratiou with lime is quite as
much to be dreaded as with alum, which
has heretofore received the most emphatic
condemnation from food analysts, ply
sicians, 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
so that the entire amount IN the baking
powder passes, with all its injurious
properties. into the stomach.
The large profits from the manufac-
ture of lime and alum bsking-powders
has placed many of them in the market.
They are to be found in the stock OF al
most every retail dealer, and are urged
upon customers calling for baklng-pow-
ders upon all occasions. Because OF
their wel-known detrimental character
it is desirable that prompt means be
taken to suppress their manufacture.
Pure bsking-powders are one OF the
chief aids to the cook in preparing per
feet and wholesome food. While those
are to be obtained Of well-established
reputation, like the Royal, OF whose
purity there has never been a question,
it is proper to avoid all others.