Starches and gums

[alt text] A vintage black-and-white industrial advertisement features the words “starches” and “and gums” in very large red lowercase letters spanning most of the page. Around the text are small illustrations and photographs of food products, including a slice of pie, a smiling boy holding an ice cream cone, a bottle and glass on a tray, a bowl of food with condiments, and a man pointing with a cane.

[transcription] Morningstar-Paisley is the country's foremost supplier of potato starch and major importer of food tapioca and arrowroot. Modern production facilities are used to process highest quality refined and pregelatinized food starches to meet all requirements. REDISOL*, FRUITFIL*, TENDERFIL*, and FREEZEST* are Morningstar-Paisley food starches used by quality-conscious bakeries, canned food, frozen food and food specialty processors from coast to coast. You will profit by knowing them better. Morningstar-Paisley is the nation's leading source for food-quality water soluble gums—Gum Arabic, Gum Karaya, Gum Tragacanth, Locust Bean Gum, Guar Gum, Agar-Agar, and Okra Gum. We select, sort, grind, blend, and refine them into function-serving ingredients for the food and beverage industry. The stabilizing, water holding and thickening properties of these natural gelling agents are depended upon by major food processors. Morningstar-Paisley can be depended upon to supply them. You will profit by knowing us better. Ask about Morningstar-Paisley's complete line of food starches, flours and gums. Tell our Food Technologists about your special requirements for thickening, binding or emulsifying. Write direct to . . .

[additional notes] The advertisement itself does not define these products, but the names strongly imply those uses. It also reflects the transition from commodity ingredients toward specialized food formulation technologies. Georgia Salcau