Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1891-11-27
Ammonia and Alum in Baking Powders,
How to Detect Them,

hAu . "lUh Il SUStI S6om Id
have a general sale, as they are men
toned in at least two of the reports.
*ATLANTIC &PACIF1C, *RoYAL,
COOKS FAvoR1TE, sCIoTo,
GROWN, SILVER SPOON,
CRYSTAL, SILVER STAR,
DAISY, *SNOWDRIFT.
*DAv1s' o. K,
DRY YEAST, STAR
GEM, STATE,
GLOBE,
"kENTON, sUNFLOwER,
PEARSoNS, WASHINGTON,
PERFECTION, WINDSOR,
PEERLESS, z1PP's GRAPE,
PURITY CRYSTAL.
There are, in addition to the foregoing
list from the Scientific American, a num-
Der of such powders sold in the western
that we're not found in the eastern stores.
Following is the list to date:
Calumet, contains alum, Calumet Bak.
ing Powder Co., Chicago.)
Forest City, contains ammonia alum,
VouWie Bros, Cleveland.)
Chicago Yeast, contains ammonia alum.
Chapman & Smith Co., Chicago.)
Bon Bon, contains alum.
iloteI, coilIalhs ammonia alum, ~. q.
UnrivaIed, contains alum, 7Sprague,
Warner & GriswOld, Chicago.)
One Spoon, Taylor's, ammonia alum.
(Taylor Mfg. Co., st. Louis.)
IarnalPs, contains alum, (Yarnall Mfg.
Co., st. LOuis.)
Shaw's Snow Puff, contains alum (Mer-
chants Mfg. Association, st. LOUSY
Dodson & Hills, contains alum, (Dodson
d Hills, st. LOUSY
%Shepard'S, contains ammonia alum.
(Wm. II. Shepard, st. LOUISE
Bain's, contains alum, (Meyey-Bain Mfg.
Co., st. LOUISE
Murdoch & Co., C~hicago.)
Snow Ball, contains alum, bengal Cof-
fee & Spice Mills, Chicago.)
Giant, contains alum.
Milk, contains alum, wv. F. Mclaughlin
Il Co., Chicago.)
Echo, contains alum, (Spencer Bluing
Paddle Co., Chicago.)
Kalbfells Purity, contains alum, (Kalb-
fell Mfg. Co, C%hicago.)
Rising Sun, contains ammonia, phoenix
Chemical Works, Chicago.)
White Rose, contains ammonia alum,
(GIobe Coffee e. Spice Mills, M%inneap-
oils.
Woods Acme. contains ammonia. (Thos.
Wood Il Co., Philadelphia.)
Andrews Pearl, contains ammonia, &C.
E. Andrews Il Co., Milwaukee.)
HarrieS' FavOrite, contains alum. (H. II.
Harries. Minneapolis.)
Fidelity. contains alum.
Solar, contains alum, (Sherman Bros,
Chicago.)
Putnam's Best, contains alum, wells
Putnam & Co., Chicago.)
China | House, contains alum, (NOah
Mcdowell. st. Paul, Minn.)
Twin City, contains alum, 81. K. Fergu-
son, Minneapolis, MIMI
Hercules, contains ammonia, (Hercules
Baking Powder Co., San Francisco.)
Climax, contains ammonia, (Climax Bak-
ing Powder Co., Indianapolis.)
Ammonia and alum are the most COM
mon adulterants used in thesmanufacture
of baking powders. The government re-
port shows that a large percentage of
the baking powders on the market con-
tain either one or the other, or both
these pernicious drugs.
What would use an ammonia
or alum baking powder if she knew it?
Such powders not only undermine the
health, but ammonia gives to the COM
plexion a sallow or blotched appearance.
| The presence of ammonia or alum in a
baking powder, however, can easily be
| detected.
To Detect Ammonia.-Mix one heap
ing t~easpoonful CT baking powder with
n t%easpoonful of water in a tin cup;
boil thoroughly for a few moments, stir
to prevent burning, and if ammonia is
present you can smell it in the rising
steam. Or, place a can of the suspected
powder top down on a hot stove for a
minute or two, then take off the cover
and smell.
To Detect Alum.-Alum powder can
be tested by putting a couple of tea
spoonfuls of the powder in a glass of
cold water. If no effervescence, that is
bubbling or simmering, takes place, con-
denim the powder and return it at once.
Some alum powders, however, like the
"Calumet,"" bon Bon" "Chicago YEAST
ETC., contain phosphates in combination
with alum, and with these brands the
following test is simple and sure:
Take one-half ~teaspoonful of baking
powder in lid of say half pound can;
char thoroughly over a strong alcohol
flame, a good gas jet, or red hot Goals.
After charing chat is, burning until the
| whole mass is black) add a teaspoonful
of water and place a bright piece of sill
YER coin in the solution. Stir for one
minute, than take out the silver. If the
powder prove a cream of tartar powder
the coin will be bright; if an alum pow
der it will have sulphur stains.
Now pour a little vinegar into the lid
and smell the fumes. Alum powders
give off sulphuretted hydrogen, which
may be detected by its foul order.
tn Drouark ET,.ounn Tat