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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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5
Good stuff
Color: Black, Size: One Size
fits well, good for every day wear, looks great, great value. the black is a good color. would have loved some more insight into how to change the date but other than that would def recommend
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Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2026
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5
Beutiful and rugget watch.
Color: Black, Size: One Size
Beutiful aspect, great and rugget watch, looks great on the wrist, nice and clear backlight, very ligth watch.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2026
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5
Watch worth buying!!
Color: Black/Brown/White
Great watch for a great price!! Keeps good time and looks great for everyday and all occasions. Easy to read and sweep hand easy to see also. I would recommend this watch to anyone!!
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Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2026
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5
Great work watch
Color: Black/Brown/White
What else is there to say, itβs a TIMEX.
The perfect JobSite watch, durable and accurate at a reasonable price.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2026
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4
It's a good look.
Color: Black/Brown/White, Color: Black/Brown/White
Very nice watch. I was complemented twice in 3 days. It fits well, looks great. I'm trying to look at screens less and teach my kids how to tell time on an analog clock face. 4 stars because, while the strap on the outside looks like it's a nylon/fabric wrist band, the inside is leather. My wrist has gotten pretty sweaty as a result. And there is a VERY audible 'tick' involved with this watch. I'm a contractor and have moderate hearing loss, but I've noticed the tick when I'm sitting quietly in my living room. If a ticking clock drives you nuts, I would not recommend. Most of the time, I am in a locale so noisy, it doesn't matter. They want a jeweler to change the battery, which, as a guy who fixes stuff, I don't love, but I've got some time before I think about that. No pun intended. I'm happy with this purchase. Good for the jobsite or a hot date with my wife.
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Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2025