Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-01-24
THE AouLrERAIioN or FOODS.

At the Wednesday evening session G I
the Board OF Agriculture, Prof. Woods,
Director Of the Maine Agricultural
Experiment Station, gave an address
upon the sdulterztion Of food in which
he gave examples of some of the more
common forms of adulterstion and
sophisticatiop. The talk was illustrated
BY specimens Of sdultersted goods.
particularly spices, condiments, coffee,
''fruit" jellies, Jams, etc.
IL seems that there has large trade
/ spruog up In articles for sdultersting
I spices. These goods known In the
trade as Pepper Dust" or "P. D." are
wonderfully compounded. They cost
three or four cents . pound by the bar
rel. and the enormous profits from this
class OF sophisticstions are readily
recognized In comparing these figures
With the prices at which the goods are
sold AZ retail. samples of sllspice
which Was exhibited were sdulterated
With such materials as spent cloves,
cracker dust, ground shells, charcoal,
mineral color and yellow corn: cayenne
pepper was shown which contained rice
-four salt and ship stuff, yellow corn,
tumeric and mineral red cinnamon
sdultersted with peas, starch, mustard
hulls, minerals, crscker dust, burnt
shells, and charcoal; ginger made up Of
various cereals, tumeric, mustard hulls,
cayenne, peas black seemed 10 contain
refuse OF al sorts such ss pepper dust,
ground crackers, ship stuff, mustard
hulls, charcoal, cocoanut shells, cayenne,
bean bran any yellow corn; mustsrds
are sdulterSted with cereals, starch,
peas, ginger and gypsum and colored
with turmeric and mineral colors.
Specimens OF cream Of tartar con-
tsining - per cent Of plaster were ex-
hibited. Most of the low grade baking
powders contain considerable quantities
OF alum, and many Of them are sdulter-
Sted with non-lesvsning materials,
which fact Is responsible for much Of
the "hesvy" biscuits, cakes, etc.
The high grade sugars are practically
free from sdulterstion. Molssses Is,
however. feSrfully and wonderfully
made one Maine wholesaler who pur-
chsses four grades OF moiSsses Is able
from these, and glucose, 20 manufacture
as mary grades Ss his customer may de-
mand. A molzsses Of syrup made chiefly
Of glucose and favored with the refuse
molssses Of a refinery makes n very at
tractiye article so far as appearance
goes.
Teas are fairly free from sdulterstion
and whSt occurs Il for the most part In
tended 10 enhance the vslGe OF Inferior
grades. Coffecs and coffee preparations,
on the other hand, show that the con-
sumer, and especially the poor, are
being grossly deceived. Very little pure
ground coffee is sold, and even whole
coffee does not escape sophisticstion.
The purchase OF green coffee for home
roasting does not insure the pure pro-
duct, since evea the green coffee berry
il initiated. Specimens of whole roasted
coffee" nsde up chkAy Of imitation
coffee With only enough genuine coffee
20 give IL slight coffee dsvor were
exhibited. The ground coffees are largely
sduliersted with peas, chicory and
imitation coffee made from wheat mid
dlings.
In canned vegetables and fruit the
principal risks To health are those due
10 the use Of preservstives or TO the
presence Of copper. tin, lead sud zinc.
Lead IL extremely poisonous and tin Is
also poisonous. As 10 the preservatives
in common use of which salicylic acid
may be taken as type and the salts of
copper and zinc, their toxic action Is not
vet definitely known. IL is known, how
ever. that they have q marked physi-
ological action and are all more or less
potent medically. In large quantities
they create very evident temporary
symptoms OF poisoning 10 the quantities
Ia which they occur In canned foods,
their effect IL st the best uncertain.
They may be innocuous-ihey may no,
be. Much evidence can be collected to
prove either side OF the question. Any
food which contains them should De-
clearly snd distinctly labeled with the
fact expressed In distinct language. IL
there Is any fact clearer than another IL
i that no msn has any right 10 ad-
minister surrep;itiously TO any other
man more or less powerful drug
Every man has the right 10 knowledge
OF the fact of being drugged, unless he
valves this right in favor OF physi-
cian. Even here the law steps in and
insists that this physician shall be a
member OF recognized school. Sslicylic
acid which may be taken As a type OF
these additions Is a valued medicine in
many cases. Is one OF the best known
r, needles for rheumatism. aud Ia believed
never 10 have caused death in any dose,
but there l. no Justification for its use
II sny man desires 10 have sslicylic scid
in his food, there Is no doubt OF his right
10 have il since II Is no, a sufficiently
violent poison 10 warrant government
forbidding him, but there is also no
doubt of the fact that the Gamer has no
right TO admix II surreptiously. The
ssme argument may be repeated almost
word for word 10 the case OF copper.
The fruit" iellies, catsup, etc afford
an interesting field OF sdulterstion.
Samples of grape, strawberry, raspberry
and other jeliies were exhibited which
we're absolutely free from either fruit or
Jelly, being made up OF starch paste,
sweetened with glucose, colored with
coal tar dyes; favored with chemicals
aud preserved with salicylic acid. Many
OF the catsups and continental sauces
are colored with coal tar or other dy's
and preserved With sslicylic or benzoin
acids.
The remedy for this evil Is TO be found
in efficient legislation and inspection.
Many states have good food laws which
are being enforced and are gradually
reducing the worst forms OF sdulteratiou.
An orga nizstion known as the Nstionsl
Pure Food Congress has national pure
food bill before Congress which, Il II
becomes a law, will materially simpif
the work To he done by individual stsges.
Tue Maine Boards Of Agricultural and
OF Health are doing what they can to as
sisr iu the passage Of this national law:
The two Boards are also Ia favor OF
legislation Ia this State. A committee