Alum at one time was added as an adulterant to flour. This would allow the miller or baker to have a greater profit by reducing the amount of flour in a product.
Alum is a class of chemicals consisting of a monovalent cation, aluminum (Al) and water with the formula XAl2•12H2O.
One possible complication is aluminum toxicity with rickets and/or neurologic findings. The risk is increased if the person:
(1) ingests a large amount of alum in adulterated food for a prolonged period of time
(2) has other sources of aluminum (such as antacids)
(3) has renal failure
(4) is a child
In the review by Dunnigan, he estimated that an adult in London could ingest 20 g of alum per day in bread made from adulterated flour.
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