St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-03-29
MINNESOTA CHEMISTS.
They Make Analyses and State
They Found Ammonia - Pre-
SenJed to the Committee. :

c. A. Severance, who, rs an attorney,
has had more to do with the efforts OF
the daioy and food commission to pre-
vent tho adulteration OF food than any
lawyer more especially in the oleomar-
garine cases., in his argument before
the judiciary committee in the house
the other evening, said: &
''In order that there may be no mis-.
apprehension upon this point (aS to
whether bread made from ammonia
baking powders contain ammonia), we
have caused analyses 10 be made by the !
most eminent chemists OF this state 10
determine whether or not the brc7.,i |
which is eaten by the people made from
ammonia powders does or does not con-
tain this poisonous drug, and we here
with submit TO the consideration of this
committee the results OF analyses made
by DR.. c. w. Drew, the state chemist
of Minnesota; Mr. Eberman, the chem
ist of the state dairy commission, and
Prof. James n. Dodge, professor Of
chemistry at the University of Mime
sofa, one of the most eminent chem
state positively that they have ana
lyZed bread made with the baking
powders originally sold upon the
market, giving their names and the
names of the manufacturers: that the
usual quantity OF baking powder was
used in each case; the usual degree OF
heat was applied; that the powder was
taken from sealed cans bought upon the
market, and they state in each case
specified in their certificate, which we
present to the committee, that they
found ammonia present in the Bread"
They All Agrec-One Analysis.
By Charles w. Drew, Phi. B., NJ. D.,
analytical and consulting chemist.
MINNEAPOLIS. Mimi, March %, 1891.
C. a. Severance, Esq, st. Paul, MInn.
Dear Sir: In accordance with your re-
quest | have procured on the market
sealed samples Of the following baking
powders and have submitted them to
examination for the presence of am
monia. The results are as follows: >.
Andrews Pearl Baking Powder, a
cream of tartar powder containing am
monium bicarbonate.
Woods Acme Baking Powder, a
cream of tartar powder containing am
moninm bicarbonate.
Royal Baking Powder, cream of tar
tar powder containing ammonium BIZ
carbonate.
Forest City Baking Powder. an alum
powder containing ammonia alum.
White Rose Baking Powder, an alum
phosphate powder containing ammonia
alum.
[ have also mad bread made from each
of these several powders under my per-
sonal supervision, employing the usual
proportion OF powder to flour and other
ingredients, and applying the usual de-
gree of heat in baking. This bread
have carefully examined for the pres
ence of ammonia, and the evidence has
Inf &c n nf n
samples. Respectfully submitted.
(Signed) CHARLES w. DREW.
Analytical Chemist.
Another One.
By w. S. Eberman, chemist state
dairy and food commission, ST. Paul,
Mimi.
ST. PAUL, Minn.. March %, 1891.
Mr.. G. A. Severance:
| herewith submit to you the results
of examination Of certain brands of bak-
ing powder.
L have recently purchased in the open
market fresh samples of the Royal,
Woods Acme, the Legal, Rising Sun and
Forest City brands OF baking powder.
Under my own supervision bread was
made from each of the above~named
powders. The formula for each batch
of bread was one quart Of flower, to
which was added two spoonfuls of the
powder. The Ingredients were CAREFUL
ly handled and baked quickly in hot
oven.
After the baking of the bread, each
sample was subjected to analysis.and in
each of the samples, after complete
and careful analysis,l found ammonium
carbonate present.
In the samples Ofbread made from the
Royal and Rising Sun, ammonium could
even be detected by the sample of bread
being broken when hot, by the smell.
Unmlstakable evidence of the presence
of ammonia. Very respectfully,
(Signed) w. s. EBERMAN.
Chemist Dairy and Food Commission.
And Vet Another.
THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA,
Chemical Laboratory,
Minneapolis, Mimi, March 23, 1891.
To Whom 1t May Concern:
! hereby certify that [ have made
tests for ammonia in SIX samples of
bread made with the use of baking