Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1892-03-26
AMMONIA DOES NOT LEAVE THE
BREAD.

This In Proven by Actual Tests In Bsk-
ing-No sophistry Required.
The fact that scientific and medical
men, and State Legislatures have no:
hesitated 10 talk about the subject has
challenged the attention OF the public TO
the discussion about the effect OF am
monia and alum in food products.
Aside from the claim OF rival COM
panies which have TO deal with this
question, there remain few truths on
which people can build their own con-
illusions. One OF the claims made ia
that ammonia when used In baking pow.
der put into bread, disappears in the
baking OF the bread. To be scientific.
the claim ia made that ammonia 10 VOLTA
tile salt. Medical men OF repute, chem.
lists OF unquestionable standing, and
practical business men who have given
the matter unbiased investigation, say
such Is not the case. The opinions Of
these gentlemen have been printed. The
question was of sufficient importance TO
warrant some OF the Legislatures OF the
country TO take IL up and pass upon it.
BE ore action was taken on the matter
the 'committee in charge called chemists
before them and tests were made. In
the State OF Minnesota, for example
there appeared before the Senate COM
mittee in charge OF the investigation
Charles w. Drew, PHI. B. M. d., analyt.
ical and consulting chemist of Mime
apolis; DIR. w. S. Ebermann, Chemist
oi the State Dairy and Food Commits
sion OF the State OF Minnesota, and Prof
James A. Dodge, Professor OF Chemistry
at the University Minnesota. Az th'
question wac, us ammonia q volatile
salt?'' il was necessary to use in the tes
such baking powders as are acknowl
edged TO contain ammonia. The list in
eluded Andrews Pearl Baking Powder
Woods Acme Baking Powder, and Roya
Baking Powder. DIR. Drew found in each
g cream OF tartar powder containing am
monia. He also found in the Forest Git,
Baking Powder an alum powder contain
ing ammonia-alum, and in White Ros,
Baking Powder. an alum-phosphate con
tanning ammonia-alum. lie stated Il
the committee the following emphatic
lopinion: 81 would not recommend tn,
use OF such powders 10 my patients. no
would / use them in my own family.
This opinion referred TO the powder
which had been used in making the tests
The opinion OF DIR. Ebermann, who has
made personal test In addition, wac I,
the same effect. tie went further, an,
said that In the samples OF bread mad
from the Royal and Rising Sun, am
monia could even be detected in tn
samples Of bread broken when hot, b,
the smell, unmistakable evidences OF thl
presence OF ammonia. Prof. Dodg
made six tests, and found that the Ris
ing Sun, the Royal, Woods Acme, an,
Andrews Pearl baking powders con
tanned ammonia, and that the Fores
City and the White Rose contained am
monia-alum, and found ammonia Ii
each OF the six samples OF bread mad
from the powders named. The test
were sufficient to warrant the committee
composed OF business and intelligen
men, TO recommend the passage oil bill
which would require the manufacturer
OF such baking powders as contain alum
and ammonia to have the fact printed OF
the packages offered 10 the public, 9,
that the consumers could not be de
ceived. A very significant hint that am
monia and alum are not, when takel
into the stomach, conducive to health
The Legislature OF New York followe,
the lead on such an enactment, and tn
Illinois Legislature discussed the ques
ton before their adjournment In tn
spring OF 9l. The question 10 now be
fore the Legislature of Georgia. Ii
Minnesota, when the question was frs
stated, the leading merchants OF the tw,
cities, St. Paul and Minneapolis. VIII
deal in food products, addressed q com
munication to the Legislature asking
10 pass the bill compelling manufactur
ers who make goods containing foo,
sdulterants 10 label cans containing tn
same.
The petitioners echoed the sentimen
OF the public in the use OF the following
words: ''As general dealers In foo.
products, and being necessarily withou
the skilled information 10 know OF tn
composition OF special articles like bak
ing powders. and at all times being de
sirous OF selling pure articles of food, w
believe the information such as Is aug
gested by the proposed bill, l. g., tina
the cans be plainly labeled az 20 tn
nature Of their contents, 10 most right
eous and just the consumer can there
by purchase intelligently."
This petition was signed by the fol
lowing representative houses, which ar
as high in their commercial integrity 4
the representative houses Of any city II
the country.
YarxA Bros = Co., Levin Bros
Andrew srhoch Gro Co. Michaud BFus.,
! chak Knauft j WaQeaer