The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-13
BARS OUT SACCHARIN
North Dakota Food Commissioner
Prohibits Use Of Coal Tar
Sweetness.
Minnesota Likely to Follow Suit
Facts About Sugars Great
Rival.

Saccharin, the famous coal tar
product, 'sweeter than sugar. has.
been barred from the state of North
Dakota. E. F. Laid, the dairy and
food com missioner Of that state, has
issued a circular declaring the use of
saccharin a violation of the pure food
law. 81
90 DR.. H. w. Wiley, chief of the bureau
of chemistry of the United States de-
partment of agriculture, declares that
saccharin is injurious to health, and
it's use should be prohibited. The
federal law prohibits it's importation,
but it is made extensively in this coun-
try and used in a variety Of ways with
out restriction. North Dakota Is the
first state to put UP the bars against it.
w. w: P. Mcconnell, Minnesota's
commissioner, says he has not inves-
tlgated the subject at all, but will take
1t up as soon as he has an opportunity.
1t Is believed that the Minnesota law
will cover 1T, tho the saccharin manu-
facturers claim 1t is harmless, and are
expected to make a fight in the North
Dakota courts. Z
Preserves and SWeetens
The most common use of saccharin
is In canned corn. 1t gives the corn
an artificial swee tness and also acts as
a preservative. The big Gamers
claim they cannot get along without it,
Some small concerns in Minnesota put
up corn without it, and use sugar, but
saccharin is less expensive and is
hard to compete with. Canned peas
usually contain saccharin. It's use is
common in beers and elders, in pre-
serves, >jellies and jams, in sweet
pickles, and above all, in candy.
Much candy is made of glucose, which
saccharin is used to add sweetness. :
one pound of saccharin gives "a
-sWeetening effect equal to $50 pounds
OF the best granulated sugar. A tiny
speck Of the white powder, placed
on the tongue, will fill the mouth with
a sweet taste. for. an hour, as if a lump
OF loaf sugar had been dissolved. The
powder is even used to sweeuen sugar.
Inc best grades do not need sweeten-
Ing, but granulated sugar "seconds''
are deficient in sweetening power, and
they are often helped out by a.
sprinkling of saccharin.
Injurious to the SYSTEM
Advocates of saccharin claim that it
IS harmless. 1t is used as a medicine
IN diabetes and other kidney diseases
that require the sufferer to- abstain
from sugar. The highest medical au-
thorities agree, however, that the con-
tinued use of saccharin is Injurious to
the system. It affects the kidneys.
1t is also an antiseptic; therefore it
mas retarding effect on digestion. A
very weak solution interferes with the
action OF the digestive juices. . Add to
this the fact that it has no nu-
trltlve value whatever, and it is easy
to see why DR.. Wiley condemns it's
use as a fraud and an injury to the
consumer.
Manufacturers of the wonderful
sWeetener claim themselves that it is
an antiseptic. In it's composition it is
very closely related to salicylic acid,
which Is a powerful antiseptic. It is
chemically described as "Benzoyl Sui
phonlc-Irnide,' and is a derivative of
benzo1c acid, a well-known, ,preserva-
tive. - Its manufacture starts with
toluone, by-product Of coal tar,
which is heated with sulphuric acid.
and the residue successfully treated
WIN lime, carbonate Of sodium, phos-
phor1c trichlonde, chlorine, gaseous
ammonia, potassium permanganate,
ana the powder used in commerce is
| precipitated with mineral acids.
from this description, found in the
advertising matter of the saccharin
manufacturers, the famous sugar sub
stltute does not seem very appetizing,
however, 1T is a perfect imitation of
sugar as to taste, and it's cheapness
MAKES IT a dangerous competitor.
Minnesota always takes an advanced
! stand on the pure food question.
commissioner Mcconnell is a firm be-
never In the enforcement of the law
against all substitutes, whether
harmless of merely inferior deceptions
ana 1t seems certain that when he has
made his investigation, the wonderful
| coal tar sWeetener will be prohibited
IN the markets of Minnesota,