The Dickinson press., 1891-08-29
is IT ON THE LIST.
Ammonia and Alum In Baking Pow
ders. How to Detect Them.

In view OF what h Minnesota SEN
ate has done, it is hoped that legisla-
tive bodies in other states will soon
take up the subject of food adultera-
tion. The subjoined list of baking
powders containing ammonia and
alum, compiled from official reports
and publishedin a receut number ofthe
Scientific American, is given below.
cit deals in a direct n with an
evil which must be cut down. said the
Chicago Tribunein commenting on the
Scientific American report. Follow
ing is the list Of
AMMONIA AND ALUM BAKING POWDERS.
COMPILED FROM OFFICIAL REPORTS.
Powders marked with a star seem
to have a general sale, as they are
mentioned in at least two OF the re-
ports.
sATLANTIC g. PACIFIC. sROYAL.
COOKS FAVORITE. 6CIOTO.
CROWN. SILVER SPOON.
CRYSTAL. SILVER STAR.
DAISY. sSNOWDRIFT.
sDAVlS' o. Z. SOVEREIGN.
DRY YEAST. STAR.
GEM. STATE.
GLOBE. STANDARD.
sKENTON. SUNFLOWER.
PEARsON's, WASHINGTON.
PERFECTION. WINDSOR.
PEERLESS. ZIPP'S GRAPE.
PURITY. CRYSTAL.
There are, in addition to the fore
going list from the Scientific American,
u number OF such powders sold in the
western that were not found in the
eastern stores.
Following is the list to date:
tcalumet Baking Powder Co., chicago.5
(Vouwie Bros, Cleveland.)
CHICAGO YEAST. Contains Ammonia
Chapman & Smith Co., Chicago.)
Bon ~ BON : Contains Ammonia Alum.
4; 8 r.. Grant ~ Baking Powder sS CO.. ehi js9s!Sj
oSSE SsFoioS, TAYHoR's, Ammonia Aifam1
(Taylor Mfg. Co., ST. Louis.)
YARNALL'S Contains Alum.
!Yarnall MtE. Co., St. LOUISE.
SfaM 0SNOW IUEF = contains AluIl.
(Merchant's Mfg. Association, st. LOUSY
DoDsoN & HILLS. Contains Alum.
sHEPARD's. Contains Ammonia Alum.
Wm. H Shepard, St. LOUISE
Meeyer-Bain Mfg. Co., St. LOUSY
MONARCH, Contains Ammonia Alum.
(Reid, Murdoch &C.,, Chicago,?,
sI Beng sA Coffee & Spice Mis- iEHt Shaggy Asa~'
GIANT, Contains Alum.
nill. y. F. Mclaughlin & G" ' Chicago siN'n'
iI Spencer Bluing Paddle Co., so,'t chiea ea1'i"'
KALBFELL'S PURITY, Contains Alum.
Kalbtell Mfg. Co, Chicago.)
phoenix Chemical Works, Chicago.)
WHITE ROSE. Contains Ammonia Alum.
GLOBE Coffee g. Spice Mills, Minneapolis.)
WOODS ACME : : Contains Ammonia.
CThos. Wood & Co., PHILADELPHIA
ANDREWS PEARL, Contains Ammonia
C. p; Andrews & Co, Milwaukee.)
HARRIEs' FAVORITE, : Contains Alum.
QH: H. Harries, M~inneapolis.)
FIDELITY, Contains Alum.
SOLAR Contains Alum.
PUTNAMN's BEST D' 0i Contains Alum.
(Wells, Putnam g. Co., Chicago.)
CHINA ST" HOUSE, : Contains Alum.
TWIN &N0 efr Mcdowell st. Ps nnat Mimi 2,,n,
:, q; <; Ferguson, MINNEAPOLIS. Mimi
HERCULES, Contains Ammonia.
Hercules Baking P'w'd Co, San Francisco)
CLIMAX Baking Powder Co., Indianapolis)
Ammonia and alum are the most
common adulterants used in the
manufacture OF baking powders. The
Government report shows that alarge
percentage OF the baking powders on
the market contain either one or the
other, or both these pernicious drugs.
What woman would use an ammo
MIA or alum baking powder, if she
knew it? Such powdersno only under
mine the health, but ammonia gives
to the complexion a sallow or blotch-
ed appearance. The presence OF am
monia or alum in a baking powder.
however, can easily be detected.
To DETECT AMMONIA. Mix one
heaping teaspoonful OF baking powder
with one teaspoonful of water in a tin
cup; boil thoroughly for a few mo-
ments, 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 teas
poonfulls Of the powder in a glass of
cold water. If no effervescence, that
is bubbling or simmering, takes place,
condemn 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 thefollowing TESTS sim
pie and sure:
Take one half teaspoonful OF baking
powder in lid of say half pound can;
char thoroughly overa strong alcohol
flame, a good gas jet, or red hot GOALS.
After charing, that is, burning until
the whole mass is black, add a teas
poonful of water and place a bright
piece of silver coin in the solution.
Stir for one minute, then take out the
silver. If the powder prove a cream
OF tartar powder the coin will be
bright; if nm alum powder it will have
sulphur stains.
Now pour a little vinegar into the
lid and smell the fumes. Alum pow
ders give off sulphurettod hydrogen,
which may be detected by its foul
odor.