St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-03-27
AMMONIA Is POISON,
And the Carbonate of Ammonia Is
Dangerous.

Dangerous.
Fred W. Stecher said he had given the
study of baking powders a good deal of
attention, and he had no hesitation IL
prOnOuncing the use of those contain
ing ammonia as hurtful to health. Il
mean by that" said Mr.. Stecher. that
while no harm would result from the
occasional use Of such powder in food.
there would be danger i'll its continued
use. Ammonia is poison. The form
used in baking powders is carbonate of
ammonia. which is made up of two
gases, carbOnlc acid and ammonia. 1t
Is an organic substance. and for that
reason is not the most desirable thing
to be used in food product When
taken as a food in sufficient quantities
its tendency is to neutraliZe the gastric
juice, rendering the pepSin inactive
The presence of an acid is required
10 make the pepsin active in the
digestive process. 1t is then, in the
continued use of ammonia in any
form, that danger lies. 1t is doubtless a
great temptation for housewives TO use
ammonia as leavener in bread. be-
cause of the desirable qualities in that
respect that it possesses, but the danger
is that some of the ammonia remains in
the bread and renders it alkaline. II it
were possible by baking powder to re-
move all the ammonia and all the gases
IL would be all right. but it is because
this is not possible that the statement
is warranted that ammonia powders are
the most hurtful of any like prepara-
tons. | would like to see a law passed
requiring the labelling Of ammonia pow
ders, as 1t Is only proper that people
should know what they are buying.
People can go to any store and buy car
Donate OF ammonia and make light
bread of it. as well as to buy it in bak-
ing powder form. Ammonia. when
taken constantly into the system. will
produce dyspepsia and attendant evils.
The excessive use of it, at least in bak-
ing powders, should cettainly be con-
demned.''
DR.. j. D. Anderson said: "I have
never given careful study to the use OF
ammonia in foods. but have no hesita-
ton IN saying that there is danger in
the continued use of food containing
ammonia in any OF its forms. There is
more danger to healthy person in its
use than TO a dyspeptic person. Very
small quantities might not do any harm,
but it question just how small the
quantities would have to be-"
DR.. Observation-Disclosures of foods
and medicines are what we are con-
Stantly fighting against. From alum we
get most Of our stomach trouble. We
prescribe ammonia for certain results.
but. of course, do not recommend its
constant use. 1 believe in the legisla-
ton that will compel ali manufacturers
Of articles sold as food or medicinal
preparations TO put their formula on the
label, so people can see what they are
doing.
DR.. J. T. Mo0re-That is right, nv
boy, give it to 'em. We ought to have a
universal law concerning authorizations
of food. Manufacturers should be made
to show exactly what they sell. This
attack Oh OleOmargarine cannot be too
severe. About alum and ammonia in
baking powders, ETC.? Well, alum is a
severe astringent, and should not be
used at all. Ammonia is drug that has
very bad effect, if used very long.
DIR. BraZie-Decidedly in favor of
making every package sold for food,
drink or medicinal purposes have the
exact contents on the label. Spirituous
liquors are abominably adulterated. We
would not have one man intoxicated
where we have 100 now if all liquors
were pure. Same with foods. | am
sincere in the belief that a person
should never eat anything unless he
knows what it is. Alum is a very power
full astringent, and ammonia in its con-
tinued use is very deleterious.
DR.. Kilvington-I believe that all COM
pound substances used for food should
be labeled with contents and quantity of
each ingredient. You can't make it too
strict. There are worse things than
baking powders. Alum and ammonias
IN quantities are bad. Liquors are badly
adulterated and it should be prohibited.
The filthy Wav however, Of matyincr
bread as some of our bakers have. does
more harm than many things used that
are adulterated.
DR.. Rochford-We know that alum is
bad ana that ammonia used in excess is
deleterious TO the functions of digestion.
1t neutraliZes the gastric juices of the
stomach like any alkali. All compound
substances should be labeled with in
gradients Oh outside of the package,