The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-11-10
FOOD ADULTERATION
7
Rw Easy it is TO Pose as an
AlarmiSt.
SOME VERY POPULAR FALLACIES.
how Some of Our Food is Prepared
Adulterants That are Harmless
and Otherwise.
Written for TIE SUNDAY Herald /


In the present age of the world, it is a
wonderfully easy matter for almost any
body to pose before the public as an alarm
ist. People generally seem fond of being
frightened, and anything suggesting a
scare-crow is tolerably sure to bring con
fusion into the Aock. But reaction in such
cases is not long delayed: then the cause OF
the stampede comes in for all the blame
which the limited leisure of nineteenth
century life permits.
Only few years ago, the subject of food
adulteration was an almost universal
theme for public tongues and pens; but
lately a change has come over the spirit
of the public mind, and people seem to
think the cry of wolf wolf!'' is as mean
ingless as of yore. There is no doubt that
ma1,y a gross error has been fOisted on
tn Re unthinking readers who believe that
everything which they see in print must of
necessity be true; but to the reflective
mind many of these glaring misrepresenta-
tions are apparent even on first statement
For example: The idea has been long pop
ular that nearly all the ordinary brands of
Chinese tea are more or less defiled through
material being added solely as a make
weight. Many an analyst has certified to
finding as high as 5 per cent iron in the
commOner and cheaper brands Of tea. An
English chemist recently directed atten-
ton to the absurdity of believing that such
adulteration could be in any way general.
According to the most recent data within
Eeach at the present writing, China alone
exports upward Of 6OOO0O,OOO pounds of
tea per year. Now, if we suppose that but
one-fourth of this amount is adulterated
in the manner named to the extent of 5 per
cent there would be required by the
Chinese tca-mercerS about seventy five
hundred thousand pounds of iron filings
per year. Where are the filings to come
froml If the whole world were put un-
der contribution for decade, the quantity
required for "A single year could not be
raised 1t is to be remembered that only
filings, and the finest filings at that, will
do. Behring'S or any coarse particles would
at once reveal their presence as rusty
Jumps. Then, without doubt, the cost Of
,thfflings to the Chinese exporter would
be much in excess of that of tea leaves,
pound for pound.
NJ is doubtlessly true that in many kinds
or tea, chemical tests would reveal the
presence Of iron; but this substance does
state.
black oxide OF iron, in Il finely pulveriZed
condition. is frequently used for facing"
the leaves with glossy lustre Graphite
or plumbago, soapstone, Prussian blue
mica, and indigo are also employed for i'm
parting a false lustre to the leaves. Yet
all of these polishes are practically insolu-
bic, and therefore but slightly noxious.
Judging from the growing prevalence of
the doctors tea disease including the
many nervous disorders incident to the
forbidden use of this exhilarating cup,
there are few adulterants used in the tea
trade which are nearly as injurious as the
tea itself
This suggests to the mind the interesting
query as to whether such additions-made
purely for the sake of an improved appear
ance-are indeed authorizations before the
law. One of the most elaborate adultera-
ton codes in existence is that known as the
Massachusetts adulteration act" and by
its provisions any article of food is said to
be adulterated within the meaning of the
act:
If any substance or substances have
been mixed with it so as to reduce or lower
rinjuriously affect its quality or strength.
Eff any inferior or cheaper substance
or substances have been substituted wholly
or in part for it.
3-If any valuable constituent has been
wholly or in part distracted from it.
4-If it is an imitation of, or is sold I'M
der the name of, another article.
5-If it consists wholly or in part of
diseased, decomposed, purtid or rotten
ag&a or vegetable substance, whether
manufactured or not; or, in the case of
milk, if it is the product of a diseased
animal.
eff it is coiored. coated, polished, or
powdered, whereby damage is concealed,
or if it is made to appear better, or of
greater value than it really is.
!
ingredients, or any ingredient which may
render it injurious to the health of per
son consuming it.
In short, according to the definitions here
laid down, everything is an adulteration
by which the purchasers money is obtain
able under false pretenses. Surely then
unadulterated goods are few and far be
tween.
Among the common efforts to enhance
the color or appearance of foods, many are
Of very serious effects. Thus, owing to
OR liking for bright hUes, picking opera
tons are frequently carried on in copper
vessels; as a result of which the poison
Gus copper acetate is produced, imparting
its brilliant color and its deadly nature to
the pickles.
Tne use of injurious coloring matters is
especially prevalent in the manufacture of
confect; emery articles. Some of these tint
ing substances are harmless, others are in
Varied hues are impaired by preparations
of cochineal, carmine lake, magenta,
Prussian blue. Antwerp blue, ultramarine
gamboge, Brunswick brown, sienna and
VaudyAe brown; but OF far greater detri-
nept than these are: Red lead, lead chrom-
ate or chrome yellow, vermilion or mercury
sulphide, ferrugineous earths, and emerald
green or copper arsenite. Reliable records
show numerous fatal cases of poisoning
ffeEn the use of colored candies, especially
the Chrome yellows, vermilion reds and
arsenic greens.
Many unsuspecting candy makers pur-
chase their colcrs of regular dealers in
such supplies without knowing at all the
composition Of the stuffs. The writer once
enjoyed an opportunity of investigating |
several confectionery factories in the city |
of Baltimore IN one establishment of the !
kind, he was most courteously received, |
and readily gained permission to visit any
department Of the works. He was shown
a number of colors, among them package
of brilliant yellow, tabled vegetable
color" and Boosting by guarantee that it
was absolutely free from mineral admix-
lures of any kind The material had all
appearances of the poisonous lead chrom-
ate. and when bit, in size equal to pea,
WAS heated before the blow pipe fame,
shot of lead was readily obtained.
Beside the use of false colors, almost /
numberless additions of foreign substances |
are made in food for the purpose of en-
hkancing the taste, smell, or other proper !
lies. Thus, much of the lemon and lime |
Juices and the vinegar of the markets con- I
tain injurious admiXtures of the corrosive /
oil of vitrol.
And there is yet another class of adulter-
,Aglr NG1,loo ofor.t