Dangerous Adulteration

If consumera prefer to buy an adulterated article of foodbecause it can be had at a lower price, they undoubtedly have the right to do so, provided the adulterants are not of a character injurious to health. If such articles are not falsely sold as pure, and the customer is not deceived as to their real character, the transaction is not illegitimate. But the great danger in the traflic in adulterated food arises from the deception tbat is practised by manufacturers usually clacsing such goods as pure. This is almost invariably done when the adulterant is one that is injurious to health. For instance, manufacturers of alum and lime baking powders not only fail to inform the public of the real character of their goods, but caiefully coaceal the fact that they are made from these poisonous articles. Most of these manufacturers also claim that their articles are pure and wholesome, while some go stillfurtherand proclaim boldly that they are cream of tartar goods, or even the genuine Eoyal Baking Powder itself. No consumer will buy alum baking powders knowingly, for it is well understood that they are detrimental to health. The sale of lime and alum baking powders as pure and wholesome articles is, therefore, criminal, and it is satisfactory to notice that several persons engaged in such sale have already been brought to justice in the courts. The official analysts have recently been active in the pursuit of these dishonest articles. The baking powders of several states have been carefully and critically examined. The officials are surprised at the large amount of lime and alum goods found. It is a suggestive fact that no baking powder except the Royal has been found without lime or alum, and many contain both. Dr. Price's baking powder has been found to contain 12 per cent. of lime ; Cleveland's 11 per cent. of impurities ; the phosphate powders over 12 per cent. of lime. The chief service of lime is to add weight. It is true that lime when subjected to heat, gives off a certain amount of carbonic acid gas, but a quick-lime is left- a caustic of most powerful nature. A email quantity of dry lime upon the tongue, or in the eye, produces painful eft'ects ; how much more serious must these effects be on the delicate membranes of the stomach, intestines and kidneys, more particularly of infants and children, and especially when the lime is taken into the system day after day, and with almost every meal. This is said by physicians to be one of the causes of indigestión, dyspepsia, and those painful diseases of the kidneys now so prevalent. Adulteration with lime is quite as much to be dreaded as with alum, which has heretofore received the most emphatic condemnation from food analyists, physicians andchemists, for the reason that while alum may be partially dissolved by the heat of baking it is impossible to destroy or change the nature of the lime so that the entire amount in the baking powder passes, with all its injurious properties, into the stomach. The large profits from the manufacture of lime and alum baking powders has placed many of them in the market. They are to be found in the stock of almost every retail dealer, and are urged upon customers calling for baking powders upon all occasions. Because of their well-known detrimental character it is desirable that prompt means be taken to suppress their manufacture. Pure baking powders are one of the chief aids to the cook in preparing perfect and wholesome food. While those are to be obtained of well-established reputation, like the Royal, of whose punty there has Bever been a question it is proper to avoid all others.