38 



FOOD ADULTERATION AND METHODS FOR DETECTION. 



and saccharin, the latter being an artificial sweetening material derived 

 from coal tar. There is a popular belief that granulated sugar is often 

 adulterated with white sand or pulverized rock, and that pulverized 

 sugar is commonly adulterated with starch or lime dust. Cases of 

 such adulteration, however, have never been found by this Bureau, 

 and it may safely be said that they occur rarety if at all. 



Considering the obvious simplicity of a method of determining the 

 presence of such a substance, it is strange that the idea that material 

 of this nature commonly occurs in sugar should be as prevalent as it 

 is. Sugar is readily soluble in water, and sand and mineral substances 

 insoluble. If a spoonful of sugar be placed in a glass of water, there- 

 fore, and the mixture stirred, solution will be complete. The sub- 

 stances mentioned above, if present, would remain undissolved. Of 

 course solution will occur more readily if the water is warm, and care 

 must be taken to continue the mixing for a considerable time. A 

 sample of granulated or powdered sugar, suspected of being adulter- 

 ated with sand or pulverized rock, may, therefore, be readily exam- 

 ined by anyone who is interested. 



TABLE XIV. Sugar produdx, sirups, etc. 

 CONFECTIONERY. 



HONEY. 



