Stuff You Should Know What Americans Ate When There Were No Food Laws
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Feb 13, 2024 Dive into America's chaotic food history before regulations took hold! Discover shocking tales of unsanitary practices in milk production during the Gilded Age and learn about the infamous canned beef scandal during the Spanish-American War. Meet reformers like Dr. Wiley and Teddy Roosevelt, who fought hard for food safety. Unravel the grim realities of the meatpacking industry and understand how consumer demand shaped dietary changes. Get ready for a wild ride through a lawless era of American cuisine!
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Unsafe Milk Practices
- Milk was often diluted with dirty water to increase profits.
- Sometimes, calf brains were added to mimic cream, causing infant deaths.
Fake Honey and Syrup
- Dr. Harvey Wiley, a chemist, discovered widespread food adulteration.
- Most honey and maple syrup were fake, made from flavored corn syrup.
The Poison Squad
- Dr. Wiley's "Poison Squad" experiment involved feeding volunteers adulterated food.
- The experiment exposed the harmful effects of chemicals like borax and formaldehyde.
