The evening times., 1899-04-19
DISTRICT Chemist
REPORTS ON CANDY
Wholesome Results of the
Anti-AdulteratiOn Act.
Poisons and Impurities Infrequent-
ly Found.
Dangerous COlors Used to Brighten
etmeats-ChOcOlate Drops
Made of Flour and Clay.

Considerable attention has been paid by
the District Chemist, J. ID. Hird, NJ. A.,
the past few months to the matter of pure
candy. More than a year age he made an
examination OF numerous samples which
had been secured in various ways from the
wholesale and retail candy dealers Of the
city.
The report which was made by Prof.
Hird at the time resulted in the passage
last May of the pure candy act. which pro-
hibits any person or corporation from max
ing or selling within the District Of Co.
lumbia any candy adulterated by the ad-
mixture Of terra alba, barytes. tale, or any
other substance, by poisonous colors or
fiavors detrimental to the public health.
Any person convicted of thus violating the
law may be fined not more than 800 and
all the deleterious candy found in the es-
tablishment or in the possession OF the
convicted party destroyed by order of the
court.
The law has been effective for year
now and has operated with very whole
some results. The investigation of Prof
Hird has been thorough and samp es from
great many local candy houses were
analyZed. The candy was purchased in
such a manner that the dealer was un-
aware of the purpose for which IL was OBJ
samples which were identical with those
sold out under normal conditions of trade
each day.
Recent Investigations.
1.-The most remarkable thing about the
recent investigation explained Prof.
Hird, speaking to a reporter, lis that very
little deleterious candy was discovered.
There were some instances where there
were impurities but only slight trace.
The general conception OF a pure confec-
tion would allow Of an admixture of sac
charine matter with harmless coloring and
f1avoring substances, thus making them
pleasant to the taste and attractive to the
eye, but, when. on the other hand, such
substance as kaolin and terra alba are in
corporated for the purpose OF increasing
weight, or when injurious coloring matters
are added to increase their brilliaDcy. tnen
they cannot be regarded otherwise than as
impure and detrimental TO hs alth, and the
manufacturers of such products deserve
the severest censure.
The samples obtained by me for analy-
sis were for the most part those which
would generally suit the finances and at
tract the eye of school children, being
highly colored and OF cheap quality. Par
ticular attention was paid to the coloring
matter. Colorfng matters are naturally
divided into two classes, organic, and in
organic, the former comprising the group
of vegetable pigments, cochineal. and the
coal tar colors. while the latter would EN-
brace the metallic compounds. principally
the oxides and chromates.
Poisonous Coloring Matter.
Among the most poisonous coloring mat
tiers used in candy making are chromate
of lead and gamboge for yellows, red lead
and bisulphuret of mercury for reds, ferru-
ginous earth for browns, antwerp blue and
cochineal for purple, and brunswick green
scheeles green. and carbonate Of couper
Some of these combinations could not help
but produce most injurious effects Since
the introduction of the coal tar colors
these have not been used so extensively.
and in all the samples examined by me no
trace of a mineral pigment was found
Among the coloring matters found by me
in the samples examined were vegetable
colors, cochineal, mahenta, eosne, car
mine, Flurosescien. safranine, lampblack
and few huerescent eolors.
"Of the above coal tar colors. safranine
is the only one that has had injurious
properties attributed to il, and these were
probably due more to the arsenic used in
the preparation. and which was probably
not entirely removed. than 10 the COM
pound itself. II is therefore probable that
so far as coloring matter in candy is con-
cerned We have little to fear that any
dangerous effects will follow its free con-
sumption. In regard to the other constitu-
ents making up the body of some of the
candy which I have examined / found
cocoanut, ceraline. glucose. maltese. dex-
trim, starch. gum, gelatin, parafin. grease,
flour, egg, albumen. clay. and licorice.
On one occasion / purchased some alleged
chocolate drops, which consisted of balls Of
-four coated with brown clay TO represent
chocolate and which contained just enough
sugar to give them a sweetish taste
Bargain Day Candy.
ITO be sure, lampblack. ceraline. and
clay are not very desirable articles of food
but their occurrence in candy is compare
lively rare, being usually found on only
such occasions as when certain firms make
special reductions on the price of their
commodities for a certain day. But what
more can one expect for or 10 cents
per pound? If, therefore, the public de-
mands such cheap stuff. then they are in
part responsible for the character of the
goods furnished. and any effort to prevent
their manufacture and sale is Intellectual.
/ am of the opinion, though, that the candy
found in this market is for the most part
composed of material which would not be
considered injurious TO health
POstmasters Appointed.