The Poison Squad: One Chemist's Single-Minded Crusade for Food Safety at the Turn of the Twentieth Century | 
pickThe chemist that fought in late 19th and early 20th century for pure food and laws to protect consumers against adulterated foods. Dr Wiley worked for the Ag Dept and what was the early USDA. He was responsible for the 1906 Pure Food Law.
Foods in the early 20th century were nasty, just gross.
There is so much in this book. Well written. Interesting, kept me wanting to read.
4⭐️ recommend if you are interested in food history.
pickThe author of The Poisoners Handbook tackles the story of food adulterated and the development of regulation including the Food and Drug Act and the creation of the FDA. It's a fascinating read though perhaps less narartatively focused than her precious book. Also a reminder that our government has always been dysfunctional and protected industry over consumers, though we've made great strides since the late nineteenth / early twentieth century.
Love an afternoon of reading 📚
Oops. I have a Book Outlet problem
Loved the overlap in areas of interest with The Posioners Handbook, but distinct and fascinating in own right. Kristen Potter did a great job on the recording.
pickI really enjoyed this book. Dr. Harvey Wiley was one of the first chemists doing research on food safety with additives and properly labeling/listing ingredients and products. Some of his research could have never been done today, as he did trials using people. Wiley is one of many to thank for the government starting the FDA and the food laws we have now!
pickA riveting account of the fight for food safety & labelling requirements in late 19th-c and early 20th-c America. Consumers were unaware that the food they were buying contained such things as borax, formaldehyde, copper sulphate, lead, burnt rope, coal tar dyes & floor sweepings. Harvey Wiley, chief chemist at the US Dept of Agriculture, is the larger-than-life central figure but other heroes include Upton Sinclair, Fannie Farmer & Heinz ketchup.
You need a strong stomach to read about all the food additives and fakery that‘s outlined in this book. 19th-century dairy producers diluted skimmed milk with water, then added chalk, plaster, dyes and /or calf brains to give it a better colour. “People could not be induced to eat brain sandwiches in a sufficient amount to use all the brains, and so a new market was devised.” Formaldehyde was widely used to hide or prevent spoilage.
In 1847 three English children fell seriously ill after eating birthday cake decorated with arsenic-tinted green leaves.
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pickI was only able to get this from my library via audiobook. Thank goodness. If I had read this via book it would have taken me forever as I read, stopped, re-read, pondered, & looked up things. I have food allergies & I have to read EVERY label. Thank goodness I can. Today we still debate over what is safe for us to eat. I could get on my soapbox & talk about food but I won‘t. I will suggest you pick up this book and rethink what you think you eat.
pickA very good overview of the development of the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 and the political struggles of the era which are, annoyingly, still the same struggles today. “Regulation stifles business and prevents us from making as much greedy money as possible” versus “please stop trying to poison the populace with unknown food additives, pesticides, chemical dyes, etc.” (you can guess what side I come down on) The writing is a bit dry at times.
pickWhen my family learned I was reading this book they were afraid I'd get to the point if not wanting to eat much. After reading a selection from The Jungle in high school I refused to eat ground meat. It took nearly 20 years before I ate a hamburger. This book is so good, and frightening. To learn how people ate just 100 years ago is startling. I can't recommend this book enough.
Nyt notable book 2018
As I come down with possible bronchitis I'm going to rest today and read a new book. I'm still hoping to finish my TBR for November in the next few days.
Did a double take when I saw progressive and Republican in the same sentence. Then I remembered what year the author is currently covering. 😂
pickAnother great book by Blum. She writes smoothly and clearly, and the information presented is a consistently interesting blend of "WHAT?!" and "EWWWW". It is also a very timely read. Food safety was a hard-won battle and we cannot take its existence for granted.
Excited it‘s finally leggings season and excited to start this book. I loved her book THE POISONER‘S HANDBOOK.
Just went to the most delightful book talk by Deborah Blum! Further confirms my love of science and science writers. 👩🏻🔬 Can't wait to dive into this book about food safety in the early 20th century!
Heard about the #poison squad (historical experiment and the book of that name) on the Gastropod podcast. What horrifies me most is that food additives proven to be harmful continue to be used.
https://gastropod.com/keeping-it-fresh-preservatives-and-the-poison-squad/
@Cinfhen
So I entered a nonfiction giveaway (like we do😉) from @penguinrandomhouse and won🎉🎉. The books came today and they all look fascinating. I‘ll post updates while reading.
