New-York tribune., 1903-07-15
F1AGRANT FOOD ADULTERAT1oNs.
A Few Ways to Cheat an Unsuspecting
Public

II the course of an earnest article in What TO
Eat Frederick Bedford. assistant State chem
ist OF the dairy and food department Of Min
nesota tells of some fragrant instances of food
adulteration In several samples Of pepper. he
says. he has found much as 10 per cent Of sand
and clay. Politics never brought together such
combinations as pepper often does Cocoanut
shells, peanut hulls and sawdust are added Tor
bulk and weight, plaster for weight alone and
cheap refuse from mills for bulk without weight
Then the whole is coored if necessary 10 match
the spice it soon will be- then it is moistened
and mixed baked and ground This is known to
the trade P. DIS pepper dust). and is used as
mixtures with good spices
More cunning yet according to Mr. Bedford, Is
the manufacture of jellies jams and similar
products. The body Of his jam or jelly IS MADE
the residue of pulp lett cider or vinegar
making II Jelly Is TO De mace OF " IT, gens acid II
sence 10 give the flavor of the desired fruit then
a preservative and sometimes saccharine, sub
stance made from coal tar
I'VE have often dyed piece OF wool the size Of
a mans hand a bright color from the dye ADDED
10 one teaspoonful or preserves OF g9od me- Ke @ ana
are the same those used in ordinary dress goods
dyeing, and our collection reminds one OF Joseph
Cider vinegar offers a fertile feId for the IN in
t bsat sugar house waste extra chemicals to make
some coal dye for the color, and the result is
that original white vinegar has doubled in selling
A far more dangerous practice Is to make vinegar
out Of acec acid produced by the dry disttlation OF
woods. This contains actually poisonous sub
stances.
Lemon and vanilla extracts are seldom made from
lemon and vanilla. The lemon odor Is given oy a
lemon grass" grown in Brazil; the color by
root or coal tar dye. Sometimes. Mr. Bedford says,
he has found wood alcohol used instead Of the
ordinary alcohol solvent. Vanilla is more often
made from q chemical than from bean;
In Minnesota. Jamaica ginger extract has several
times been found made with wood alcohol. Two
deaths and one case Of total blindness are known
10 have been caused by its use.
This last fraud" says Mr.. Bedford, lis about
the limit and arouses our indignation One fraud
more profitable and harmless, but nevertheless ex-
asperatng is the doctoring Of the cream sold by
a large firm of the Twin Cities. The law requires
~ per cent Of fat IN cream. They dilute it 10
l. IS Der cent, color it to resemble the cream
from the finest Jersey and thicken 1t TO show
a richness OF . per cent. some people insist on
having this cream because IT looks so good; but
what OF the country dairyman who seeks 70 please
his customers and do honest buSineSs2 Fines
thus far only check this firm for while. Their
extra profits soon pay the fines.
And the scand6lous story goes. CottonSeed
and lard oil are labelled pure olive oil; maple
syrup is cheaper the further away buys il from
Vermont and Canada: the imported wines
never shinboard, but were labelled to suit the
buyer. And stil people wonder how the pure food
commissioners earn their salaries and pooh-pOOh
their efforts 10 get national pure food bill passed,