The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-09-26
ADuLTERATED FOODS.

Volumes have been written on what
to eat. 1t is worthy subject-one re-
quiring tie study OF every one who eats.
1t leads, however, TO the more vital one
what do you eat? 1t involves the ira
dftional theology of the old German d.
vine: Peter you practice vat you
breach" Did you ever, kind reader, try
TO analyze your breakfast bill of fare,
or your menu for a swell dinner? Bread
and meat are staples Of American diet.
For the most part these e0ibles are IN
adulterated, though the leaven of the
bread may be an indigestible ferment,
and its snowy whiteneSs may be on ac-
count of a liberal supply of alum, and
the toOthsome sirloin may be from the
quarter of a superannuated dairy COW.
What of your coffee? You are careful
not to use the ground goods. 1t admits
OF foreign mixtures, and produces men,
tai indigestion. You buy the choicest
blend, put up by Mocha, Java & Co.,
and grind it yourself. But do you
know that there is perfect imitation of
the coffee berry, made Of pulverized
beef liver and paste? This liver is
roasted, or rather charred, then reduced
to plastic state and moulded in little
dies which turn out exact imitation of
coffee grains This is literally mixed
with the real coffee, and the liver berry,
being odorless and tasteless, and Of uni
form color, is not detected. The sugar
which neutralizes the rather pungent
coffee flavor and which costs you the
moderate price Of five cents a pound, Is
literally adulterated with glucose,
which has a commercial value Of one
and half cents pound. The rich
cream Of golden hue is treated to lib
eral mixture Of prepared chalk to
thicken it and given a dash of liquid
solution of tumeric to give it the rich,
saffron color. This is your beverage
''the cup that cheers but does not in
ebriate"
A glass of jelly or tart is a pleasant
appetizer for breakfast It is put up in
glass and branded strictly pure" 1t is
pure glucose, acetic acid, analine for
coloring, little alcohol to preserve it,
and often not a trace of fruit in it But
ter is indispensable ON every breakfast
table If you know it TO be fresh from
the country, you are fortunate. 1t is Ia
BILE to be Of the 'choice creamery
brand. made from a mixture of old, ran
cid butter and other foreign fats, thor
oughly deodorized and sweetened so
that its toxic properties are only detect
ed by a sour stomach or a sick head
ache after eating. A bit of cheese is
much in favor, but the chances are that
it is quite as impure as the butter.
The list Of adulterated foods would be
a lengthy one, and the crimes commit
ted against those who eat and drink diff
fer only in degree from those which re
suit in instantaneous death. The manu-
facturer who adulterates food with in
gradients which he knows TO be poison
Gus. is as much the enemy Of his race
as the highwayman who murders YOU
for money. The one plants in your sys-
TEN the slow poison which as certainly
kills is the asSassins bullet. and. IN ad-
dition. inhicts years of suffering from
its effects.
There should be laws IN every state
making this species OF crime a felony,
punishable as other crimes are punish
ed. Ohio has laws prohibiting food
adulteration which are strictly enforced,
and II has practically driven out the
manufacturers and vendors Of poison |
Gus food supplies.