496 
Sour  Salt. 
5  Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
(      July,  1921. 
SOUR  SALT,  A  NEW  SYNONYM  FOR  TARTARIC  ACID 
OR  CITRIC  ACID  * 
By  Charles  H.  La  Wall,  Ph.  M. 
During  the  year  1920  the  Pure  Food  Bureau  of  the  Pennsylva- 
nia Department  of  Agriculture  received  a  number  of  complaints  from 
customers  of  small  groceries  and  delicatessen  shops,  particularly  in 
the  sections  where  Jewish  inhabitants  predominated.  These  com- 
plaints were  concerned  with  the  alleged  adulteration  of  a  substance 
known  as  "sour  salt,"  which  was  purchased  either  in  bulk  or  in  small 
cartons  under  that  name  and  was  used  to  reinforce  vinegar  in  giving 
acidity  to  certain  foods,  particularly  to  sour  soups. 
Upon  investigation  it  was  found  that  some  of  the  firms  selling 
the  product  in  cartons  were  labeling  it  "sour  salt"  and  also  ''tartaric 
acid"  on  the  other  side  of  the  carton.  The  substance  is  always  found 
in  crystal  form  when  sold  under  this  name. 
When  samples  were  taken  from  the  stores  concerning  which 
complaints  were  received  it  was  found  upon  analysis  that  the  prod- 
uct, instead  of  consisting  of  tartaric  acid,  or  citric  acid,  as  is  supplied 
in  some  localities,  was  composed  wholly  or  in  great  part,  of  alum 
crystals. 
As  alum  is  specifically  prohibited  by  the  food  laws  of  Pennsyl- 
vania for  sale  or  use  in  foods  there  was  no  difficulty  in  obtaining  con- 
victions in  the  majority  of  the  cases  which  were  instituted,  for  adul- 
teration under  the  Food  Act. 
In  one  case,  however,  the  defendant  (a  wholesaler)  escaped 
conviction  by  perjuring  himself  to  the  effect  that  he  had  purchased 
the  mixture  of  tartaric  acid  and  alum  crystals  from  several  large 
chemical  manufacturers,  under  the  name  ''tartaric  compound,"  and 
that  he  did  not  know  that  it  contained  alum.  After  his  acquittal  the 
matter  was  taken  up  with  the  manufacturers  named,  in  order  to 
learn  the  facts  in  the  case,  and  it  was  shown  that  the  defendant  had 
been  purchasing  tartaric  acid  and  alum  separately,  in  original  con- 
tainers and  was  undoubtedly  doing  the  mixing  himself. 
Some  time  subsequent  to  this  investigation  the  Bureau  of  Chem- 
istry of  the  U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture  issued  a  ''Service  and 
Regulatory  Announcement"  covering  the  subject,  as  follows : 
*  Read  at  a  meeting  of  the  Penna.  Pharm.  Assoc..  June,  1921. 
