The Poison Squad

One Chemist's Single-Minded Crusade for Food Safety at the Turn of the Twentieth Century

De: Deborah Blum

Narrado por: Kirsten Potter

A New York Times Notable Book.

The inspiration for PBS's American Experience film The Poison Squad.

From Pulitzer Prize winner and New York Times best-selling author Deborah Blum, the dramatic true story of how food was made safe in the United States and the heroes, led by the inimitable Dr. Harvey Washington Wiley, who fought for change

By the end of 19th century, food was dangerous. Lethal, even. "Milk" might contain formaldehyde, most often used to embalm corpses. Decaying meat was preserved with both salicylic acid, a pharmaceutical chemical, and borax, a compound first identified as a cleaning product. This was not by accident; food manufacturers had rushed to embrace the rise of industrial chemistry and were knowingly selling harmful products. Unchecked by government regulation, basic safety, or even labelling requirements, they put profit before the health of their customers. By some estimates, in New York City alone, thousands of children were killed by "embalmed milk" every year. Citizens - activists, journalists, scientists, and women's groups - began agitating for change. But even as protective measures were enacted in Europe, American corporations blocked even modest regulations. Then, in 1883, Dr. Harvey Washington Wiley, a chemistry professor from Purdue University, was named chief chemist of the agriculture department, and the agency began methodically investigating food and drink fraud, even conducting shocking human tests on groups of young men who came to be known as, "The Poison Squad".

Over the next 30 years, a titanic struggle took place, with the courageous and fascinating Dr. Wiley campaigning indefatigably for food safety and consumer protection. Together with a gallant cast, including the muckraking reporter Upton Sinclair, whose fiction revealed the horrific truth about the Chicago stockyards; Fannie Farmer, then the most famous cookbook author in the country; and Henry J. Heinz, one of the few food producers who actively advocated for pure food, Dr. Wiley changed history. When the landmark 1906 Food and Drug Act was finally passed, it was known across the land, as "Dr. Wiley's Law".

Blum brings to life this timeless and hugely satisfying "David and Goliath" tale with righteous verve and style, driving home the moral imperative of confronting corporate greed and government corruption with a bracing clarity, which speaks resoundingly to the enormous social and political challenges we face today.

©2018 Deborah Blum (P)2018 Penguin Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Full of fascinating detail...a valuable contribution to understanding the politics of food.” (Nature)

“[Blum’s] prose is graceful, and her book is full of vivid, unsettling detail.... The Poison Squad offers a powerful reminder that truth can defeat lies, that government can protect consumers and that an honest public servant can overcome the greed of private interests.” (Eric Schlosser, New York Times Book Review)

“[E]ngrossing.... Blum’s well-informed narrative - complete with intricate battles between industry lobbyists and a coalition of scientists, food activists, and women’s groups - illuminates the birth of the modern regulatory state and its tangle of reformist zeal, policy dog-fights, and occasional overreach.... [A] page-turner.” (Publishers Weekly)

“A detailed, highly readable history of food and drink regulation in the United States.... [The Poison Squad] shows the push and pull of competing economic, political and social interests. The journey our country has taken in establishing food, drink and drug regulation is an important one to understand because it is still going on.” (Wall Street Journal)

great stuff

good book, great reader. recommended for all interested in food safety in America. fast moving history

Good but just the origins

Very good but only the beginning of the 20 Century. I'd like to learn more up to now.

Everyone should read this book

I loved this book! I am proud and ashamed of our country for their part in food safety

What's in your food?

This is a good lesson on politics that is germane even today. Here is the birth of the FDA. Without two things, it wouldn't have happened. The chief chemist (Dr Wiley) was the great advocate supported by a vast majority of consumers - who were vocal. The villains were big food business in cahoots with the lawmakers and the bureaucracy. You can be glad today that you don't have formaldehyde in your milk and many other things. Lessons here need to be applied to the gun laws and environmental protection. Read and learn.

Excellent and Timely Lesson and Call to Action

The research that went into creating the potrait of a brilliant, dedicated and passionate, though long-suffering and sometimes self-sabotaging character of Dr. Wiley is admirable. As the epilogue clearly states, this book provides a timely look at the history of food regulation and the long-running war between science and politics; as we look at Wiley's discoveries, battles and political roadblocks toward protecting public health through the Pure Foods Act, we are reminded how little has changed in the landscape of pilitics and how crucual both an educated public and tireless crusaders are to ensuring the public good over the interests of business. I enjoyed this book, and I enjoyed the reader's performance. I think she is able to convery Wiley's wry, dry humor very well. <3

Good, until epilogue.

Mostly a good an interesting story, shedding light on a less well known history. A few mispronounced words, but generally good performance by reader. Didn’t like the preaching and erroneous information in the epilogue. Would be better if that were cut out entirely.

Poison Squad

This book is a must read and a cautionary tale that is applicable for modern times

Regulation Saves Lives

Listen to this book and see why regulation is so important to all of us

Fantastic!

This was an excellent book and the narrator did a great job! Expectant enjoy how the text does not forget nor ignore the similarities to todays political landscape nor the dangers of repeating past mistakes etc etc etc

If you eat you must read this book!

Deborah Blum has done an extraordinary job in gathering the history of food safety and presenting it in a clear and lively manner. If you worry about the safety of today’s food and long to return to early times, you will be shocked by just how unsafe our food used to be, and how much good FDA has done over the years.