St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-03-19
INTERESTING TO HOUSEKEEP.
ERS.
Baking Powders Once More.


Many combinations of chemicals have
been proposed and tried for baking
powders, but the general consensus OF
housekeepers, as we'll as of scientific
authorities. has settled upon mixture
of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda
with potassium bitartrate (cream OF
tartar.
Were the above mixture of chemicals
allowed to stand, it would soon deteri.
GATE. To prevent this it is mixed with
an inert substance which isolates to
some extent the particles of the mix
ture. so as to confer lasting powers upon
it. This substance is usually flour or
powdered starch, and is termed fill
ing" Some filling is necessary. About
10 per cent is the least that can be used
by the most careful manufacturer, and
all over is per cent should be consid-
cred an adulterant, harmless, indeed,
but nevertheless all imposition on the
consumer.
Twenty-one baking powders are cited
In the United States department of ag-
riculture report on foods and food adul-
terantS, Washington, 1882 as exceeding
this amount. The amount of starch va
ries from 24.57 TO 52.29 per cent, which
goes to show how much starch is bought
and paid for at the price of baking pow
der. All but two of these contain am
mOnia or alum, or both, and are in the
list of powders given below.
\ more important point, however, is
to know what baking powders are adul-
Uerated with alum or ammonia. as the
continued use of such powders. accord
ing to many authorities, Injuries the
health.
The use of alum in baking powder
has been prohibited in England. France
and Germany, and Il law mas recently
been passed in Minnesota requiring
manufacturers using alum to publish
contains alum" and the Canadian gov
ernment report says page 27): The
residues left i'll the bread after use of
an alum powder are sulphate of am
mOnia. Sulphate of soda and alumina.
The last named is an earthly substance,
quite insOluble and therefore indigesti-
ble." page 81 alum is entirely OBJ
jectionabe as substitute for cream of
tartar, and ought not to be allowed a
place in any we'll appointed bakery"
The insidiOuS effects of ammonia as
an adulterant liz baking powders are
not so well known, but BartholOW sums
up the evidence against ammonia as
follows: The lOng-continued use Of
ammonia impairs digestion by neutral-
iZlng the gastric juice. Increased waste
of tissue is also one result of its admin
iStration, manifested by pallor, emacia-
tiOn and feebleness." And the Pacific
Medical journal, commenting on the
cause of dyspepsia, says page $50:
This question regarding the effect Of
ammonia upon the human economy IS
one upon which authorities do not differ,
and the individual experience of every
Is
of authorities. The agent (ammonia) is a
drug, not food; an eXcrement, not a
nutrlment. Ine amount received by
the system through these means, while
not great at any particular time, and
not sufficient to prove injurious, be-
comes both great and deleteriouS by be-
ing continuous. Physicians owe it to
their patients and to the people gener-
ally to inform themselves regarding
this matter, and without tear or favor
uHqualitiediy to condemn Injurious
preparations; and the various boards of
health throughout the state, in dealing
with the question of food adulterations,
would do the people great service to
look we'll to the brands of baking pow
derS containing ammonia and other in
furious ingredients"
In the face of such testimony, Quanti-
ties of ammonia are used, one company,
lt Is estimated, using every year Ill the
manufacture of their baking powder
two hundred and fifty thousand (250,000)
pounds. 1t is common right of the
people to know what food compounds
contain. There is, however, no law to
that effect at present. and for the pro-
lection of the public we have compiled
list of baking powders containing am
monia and alum, from five official re-
ports. viz: United States Department
of Agriculture. Bulletin No. IS; Inland
Revenue Department, Canada. Bulletin
No. 10; Ohio Dairy and Food Commits
sion, New Jersey Dairy Commission.
and the Massachusetts, State Board of
Health. 1t is list worth preserving.
AMMONIA AND ALUM BAKING POWDER.
Compiled from Official Reports.
Powders marked with star seem to
have a general sale, as they are men,
toned in at least two of the official re-
OOrtS