The Poison Squad: One Chemist's Single-Minded Crusade for Food Safety at the Turn of the Twentieth Century
SKU: 93835850820

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

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The Poison Squad: One Chemist's Single-Minded Crusade for Food Safety at the Turn of the Twentieth CenturyA New York Times Notable Book The inspiration for PBS's AMERICAN EXPERIENCE film The Poison Squad. From Pulitzer Prize winner and New York Times bestselling 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 nineteenth century, food was dangerous. Lethal, even. "Milk" might contain formaldehyde, most often

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-bestselling 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 nineteenth 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 thirty 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.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Penguin Group
Published: 09/24/2019
ISBN: 9780143111122
Pages: 352
Weight: 0.70lbs
Size: 8.30h x 5.50w x 0.80d
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SKU: 93835850820

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Karen Moran
Battle Creek, US
★★★★★ 1
Too Cumbersome
Size: 6 Panel-119"W, Color: Black
Didn’t realize there were over 100 pieces to put this thing together. Had I been advised of that I would not have ordered this thing. Wayyyyy too much of a production to put it together. Nope. Returned.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2026
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LRL
Boise, US
★★★★★ 3
Great Product, But Non-Existent Seller Support
Size: 6 Panel-119"W, Color: Black, Size: 6 Panel-119"W, Color: Black
The Good: Well Designed: Sturdy and aesthetically pleasing. Effective: Perfectly obstructs the afternoon sun glare from my monitor screens. Moderate Assembly: Straightforward and easy for the most part. The Bad: Defective Part: One crossbar end was missing threads, preventing the assembly of the sixth panel. Zero Communication: I emailed the seller as instructed and waited 8 days with no acknowledgment. Return Logistics: Amazon offered a return, but the box is heavy, and disassembly/repackaging would be a major task. Final Verdict I really like this product, but I’m deducting two stars for a total lack of customer service. I’ve decided to buy tools and fix it myself rather than deal with a heavy return. I hope the seller sees this and reaches out. The lesson learned is to check every part of a product before assembly.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2026
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Andrea Jagarnauth
Carnegie, US
★★★★★ 5
This is definitely a buy
Size: 6 Panel-119"W, Color: Black
Excellent product.Good Quality.Very sturdy .Easy to assemble.Provide privacy and keeps the light out just what I needed.I am happy to recommend this divider .Do not hesitate to buy
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Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2024
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Shae G
Whiting, US
★★★★★ 5
Clean Look, Sturdy — can’t ask for more!
Size: 6 Panel-119"W, Color: Grey, Size: 6 Panel-119"W, Color: Grey
Really like how it folds so I can create kind of a doorway with two of these. Pretty easy to assemble and has an uncluttered clean look due to the smooth fabric and nice color. Oh and it’s sturdy enough for pets.
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Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2024
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Nicole Howland
San Leandro, US
★★★★★ 5
Lovely, but lightweight
Color: Brown, Size: 8 Panel
Attractive and does what I needed, but is very lightweight, so must be secured.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2025

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