48 pages • 1 hour read
The Poison Squad: One Chemist's Single-Minded Crusade for Food Safety at the Turn of the Twentieth Century
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Book Brief
330
Book • Nonfiction
United States • 1900s
2018
Adult
14-18 years
Super Short Summary
The Poison Squad by Deborah Blum follows chemist Dr. Harvey Washington Wiley, who, upon becoming Chief Chemist at the USDA in the late 1880s, uncovers widespread food adulteration and contamination. Determined to improve food safety, Wiley conducts human experiments and spearheads advocacy efforts, ultimately influencing legislation that mandates safe food practices and targets unscrupulous manufacturers. The book details exploitative manufacturing tactics endangering consumers, including children.
Informative
Unnerving
Mysterious
Challenging
Reviews & Readership
5,112 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Deborah Blum's The Poison Squad meticulously explores early 20th-century food regulation, drawing praise for its vivid storytelling and historical depth. Critics commend its engaging narrative and thorough research. Some find the scientific detail dense and the pacing uneven, but overall, it is lauded for illuminating an important, yet overlooked chapter in public health history.
Who Should Read The Poison Squad?
Readers who enjoy investigative journalism, historical contexts, and food safety would relish The Poison Squad by Deborah Blum. Comparable to works like Upton Sinclair's The Jungle and Eric Schlosser’s Fast Food Nation, it appeals to those interested in the history of consumer protection and public health.
5,112 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
James Wilson
James Wilson
Originally from Scotland, Wilson was the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture for 16 years and often clashed with Dr. Wiley due to his sympathies with the food industry. He was involved in a scandal that involved an attempt to discredit Wiley.
Deborah Blum
Deborah Blum
A Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and science writer, Blum is known for her works on science and medicine as they intersect with history. She serves as the director of the Knight Science Journalism Program at MIT and founded the online magazine Undark.
330
Book • Nonfiction
United States • 1900s
2018
Adult
14-18 years
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