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.

Saccharln, the famous coal tar
product, "sweeter than sugar" has.
Dakota. E. F. Ladd, the dairy and
food com missioner of that state, has
issued a circular declaring the use of
saccharin violation of the pure food
law. @
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 1T 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'ss
commissioner, says he has not inves-s
t1gated 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 it, tho the saccharin manu-
facturers claim it is harmless, and are
expected to make a fight in the North
Dakota courts. !:
Preserves and Sweetens
The most common use of saccharin
is In canned corn. 1t gives the corn
an artificial sweetness and also acts as
preventative 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
IS not as sweet as cane sugar, so the
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 lump
OF loaf sugar had been dissolved. The
powder is even used to sweeuen sugar.
The best grades do not need sweeten-
ing, but granulated sugar Seconds
they are often helped out by a.
sprinkl1ng Of saccharin.
Injurious to the SYSTEM
Advocates of saccharin claim that it
Is harmless. It is used as a medicine
in diabetes and other kidney diseases
| that require the sufferer to- abstain
! from sugar. The highest medical au-
thorlt1es agree, however, that the con-
tlnued use Of saccharin is Injurious to
| the system. It affects the kidneys.
1t IS also an antiseptic; therefore it
AA''o e' S|e'A O1lAS elleCI Oh u1SeSIlOn. 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 its
use as fraud and an injury to the
consumer.
Manufacturers of the wonderful
| sWeetener claim themselves that it is
an antlseptic. In it's composition it is
very closely related to salicylic acid,
winch is a powerful antiseptic. It is
chemically described as "Benzoyl Sui
phonlc-Irnide,' and is derivative of
Denzo1c acid, well-known preserva-
tive. Its manufacture starts with
! toluone, by-product of coal tar,
winch is heated with sulphuric acid.
ana the residue successfully treated
with lime, carbonate Of sodium, phos-
phor1c trichlonde, chlorine, gaseous
ammonia potassium permanganate,
ana the powder used in commerce is
| Preclpltated with mineral acids
from this description, found in the
advertising matter of the saccharin
manufacturers, the famous sugar sub
stitute does not seem very apDetizing.
However, it is a perfect imitation OF
sugar as to taste, and it's cheapness
MAKES 1t 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, whethe,
harmless Of merely inferior receptions
ana II seems certain that when he has
made his investigation, the wonderfu
coal tar sWeetener will be prohibited
| IN the markets of MINNESOTA.