People's Pilot, Volume 2, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 March 1893 — SERIOUS FACTS ABOUT BREAD [ARTICLE]

SERIOUS FACTS ABOUT BREAD

Which Housekeepers Should Earnestly Consider. A serious danger menaces the health of the people of this country in the numerous alum baking powders that are now being urged upon the public. There is no question as to the detrimental effects of these powders upon the system. Every Board of Health, every physician, will tell you of the unwholesome qualities they add to the food. Some countries have absolutely prohibited the sale of bread containing alum. Even small doses of alum, given to children, have produced fatal results, while cases of heartburn, indigestion, griping constipation, dyspepsia, and various kindred gastric troubles from irritation of the mucous membrane, caused by the continuous use of food prepared with the alum or alum-phosphate powders, are familiar in the practice of every physician. It is not possible that any prudent housewife, any loving mother, will knowingly use an article of food that will injure the health of her household, or perhaps cause the death of her children. How shall the dangerous alum powders be distinguished? And how shall the danger to health from their use be avoided? Generally, alum powders may be known from the price at which they are sold, or from the fact that they are accompanied by a gift, or are disposed of under some scheme. The alum powder costs but a few cents a pound to make, and is often sold at 20 or 25 cents a pound. If some present is given with it, the price may be 30, 40 or 50 cents a pound. It is impossible to name all the alum powders in the market, but any baking powder sold at a low price, or advertised as costing only half as much as cream of tartar powders, or accompanied by a present, or disposed of under any scheme, is of this class, detrimental to health, and to be avoided. But the easy, safe, and certain protection of our bread, biscuit and cake from all danger of unwholesomeness is in the use of the Royal Baking Powder only. This powder is mentioned because of the innumerable reports in its favor by high medical authorities, by the U. S. Government, and by the official chemists and Boards of Health, which leave no doubt as to its entire freedom from alum, lime and ammonia, its absolute purity and wholesomeness. While its use is thus a safeguard against the poisonous alum powders it is satisfactory at the same time to know that it makes the whitest, lightest, sweetest and most delicious food, which will keep moist and fresh longer, and that can be eaten with immunity hot or cold, stale or fresh, and also that owing to its greater strength it is more economical than others. These facts should incline consumers to turn a deaf ear to all importunities to buy the inferior powders. If a grocer urges the sale of the cheap, impure, alum brands, it should be borne in mind that it is because he can make more profit on them. The wise housekeeper will decline in all cases to take them. Take no chances through using a doubtful article where so important a matter as the health or life of dear ones is at stake. CREDITOR—“The consciences of those two bankrupts appear to be very elastic.” Assignee—“ Well, don’t you expect elasticity in suspenders!”—Clothiers’ and Haberdashers’ Weekly. MISS PERT says that others may have their love in a cottage, but love in a cortege is a better way to put it.—Boston Transcript. IT has been recently announced that the waltz was the creation of the African ostriches. This isn’t the first time they have given us tips.