Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-05-26
PHYSICIANS Scent
DANGER IN SODA
BENzOATE
Medical Men Not Inclined to
Accept Decision Of RemSer
Board Permitting It's Unlimi-
ted Use in Foods,

washington. d. G.. May 23.-Phy-
sicilns throughout tho country are
tarinr ne,y interest in the controversy
nvor bcnzoate of soda since the report
Of the Remscn board was made pun
He. Or. H.. w. Wiley, chief chemlsl
of the department of agriculture
made an elaborate series OF eNpcrl,
ments with benzoate OF SODA an"
reached the conclusion that even
minute quantities used TO preserve
foods were detrimental To heallh'
The Rcmsen board, which MADE q
subsequent investigation, failed TO
find conelusiVclN that henzoate OF
soda mixed with food was delecter-
ious TO health. although some symp-
toms were noticed that were not thor
oughly understood on the strength
Of the Remscn boards report lh.
nure food commission gave the lopu
permission TO use
benzoatc OF soda in unlimited guam
titles. Physicians in general arc ho'
nreparcd 10 accept the ltcnlsen rec
mort as the final word ON the sun
teet They hold to the opinion that
while small docscs of the drug may
noseihlv not bc especially injurious 70
healthy young men there IL no DOUBT
| hat similar doses are likely 10 erect
! fnvalids and children to "A considers
ahIe extent. They also believe that
while there might not be enough IN
onv one continental food 70 do great
harm. the danger is e|raycly increased
hv the number OF foods in which
henzoatc OF soda can now be chl-
Moved. 1t has already been used sue
cessfully as an cmbalming agent ~
ketchup. soups preserves apple put
ter. soda water. syrups, 1ellles' cue"
and if is believed that It Will replace
boracic acid in the cmhalming ol
roast beef. sausages. both green ana
smokod, pottcd tongue, ham ana
chokcn hamburger steak, cite. TX
limo are buing made to deter
mine it's availability TO replace
formaldchydc in milk and dairy pro
1urts The use OF formaldehydo ana
hotoeie acid having been prohibited
Inv Inw while that of b%cnzoatc OF SODA
~ sanctioned those manufacturers
vino formerly used the other cheml-
calls are turning toward sodium pen
zoatc.
HhAEIIllfh hiA AAA' A'tN''A N' "
suhioct because while bcpHoatc OF
soda Is an effective embalmlnB agent
III h. demonstrated by the Egyptian
mummics which were preserved WIN
bonzoic acid. II Is not an eit'ctlNo
eormcidc. aud does not XIII tI'
tvphuid or tubcrcular germs present
in foods where II Is employed. More
over it's use Is especially injurious ="
fnvalids suffering from kidney tfoupl'
for bcnzoc acid. which rs comDlneu
with carbonate Of soda, tx an irrltalt
directly affecting the kidneys Many
physicians have already declared thoy
viii not permit those depending on
their advice, ana especially those SuA-
nected of any organic trouble, to eat
Foods containing this powerful drug
In this connection. and significant OF
thc reason why manufacturers desire
TO use this prcscrvativc. the Journal
Of the American Medical association
than which there Is no higher au-
thority. cditorially says: /
orhc assumption that bcnzoate OF
soda i'm foodstuffs IS not dclcterious'
based on the CRemsen) board eN-
perimcnts. is unwarranted. Benzo-
ate of soda Is incorporated In foods
either to obviatc the necessity ol
cleanliness in preparation or to per
NIT the use Of inferior products. Tho
,,se 81 SODIUM b%cnzoatc TO preserve
foodstuffs has been proved unneces-
sary."
II is significant that while the De
uartm.ut Of Agriculture rs prevented
from interfering with manufacturer
who use benzoato Of soda Ia thel"
r-cducts. il Is still uttcring It's warn
+, rs to people against chemical prcs-
cvativos. In a bulletin just off ~
pra.s the use Of s%o-callcd preserving
powders" which are mainly compos-
cd OF benzoatc of soda, boracic acid,
fo~rmaldehydc. etc. is strongly de-
paln,td. There are % frrrs mary
brands Of s~o-called preserving pow
ders' on the market. says the depart
ment's bulletin. These are sold not
only under advertised trade names.
but bv druggists and poddlers every
where. IL is true that these powdo's
NAV prevent the decay of In fruit or
vegetable. but iiey also encourage uh-
el.ariy. careless work, and IN The
hands OF inexperienced persofs ma
b. dangerous. while with small d''cs
the influence may not be apparent III
an adult In normal health. with q
child Tor Invalid the effect may De- of a