POISON IN THE MUSTARD POT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 65, 13 October 1916, Page 7

POISON IN THE MUSTARD POT.

If an attack of gastric trouble or a dull headache is experienced after eating a meat sandwich, it is usually put down to the meat not being quite fresh. Few suspect the apparently harmless, small smear of mustard, yet in nine cases out of ten it is the cause of the mischief. It is not generally known that the health authorities, recognising the danger lurking in the mustard-pot, have made a law compelling restaurant and hotel keepers to either have dry mustard on the tables or else to mix it fresh daily. Am proprietor of a public eatinghouse is liable to a penalty if on inspecrioii mustard that has been mixed more' than 24 hours is found on ahy table. This rule seems to be morfe • strictly enforced'’ in Victdria than'ffilCre, in the country towns, ‘where only dry mustard is ever seen on the tables. Most housekeepers will have noticed that when mustard has been mixed for any length of time verdigris forms, which is, of course, a deadly poison. A metal spoon is liable to aggravate tbe tendency, and for this reason a bone spoon is safer. Verdigris is also liable to form rqund salt-bottles that have any nletal ab'dufi <’ffh'em. This is why the salt-bottles in 1 the' diost restaurants ha;(e china tops. There is positive danger in the mustard-pot that is not kept strictly clean, especially in summer, when it is often responsible, for the dreaded ptomaine poisoning.