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.

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.

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

- The Poison Squad delves into Harvey Washington Wiley's role as chief chemist at the USDA in the early 1900s, whose work laid the groundwork for the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906.
- The book highlights Dr. Wiley's unorthodox experiments known as the "Poison Squad," where volunteers consumed food additives to test their safety, helping push for better food safety regulations.
- Deborah Blum, the author of The Poison Squad, is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist known for her emphasis on science and its impact on society.

**Dr. Harvey Washington Wiley**  
Born in Indiana, Dr. Wiley was a key advocate for pure food legislation, drawing on his background in chemistry and his upbringing on a farm to shape his understanding of food purity. He served as the Chief Chemist at the Bureau of Chemistry and later worked at Good Housekeeping magazine to further his cause.

**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**  
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.

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Part 1, Chapters 1-3

The Poison Squad Part 1, Chapters 1-3 Summary & Analysis

Part 1, Chapters 4-6

The Poison Squad Part 1, Chapters 4-6 Summary & Analysis

Part 1, Chapters 7-8

The Poison Squad Part 1, Chapters 7-8 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Chapters 9-12

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Part 2, Chapters 13-15

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The Poison Squad Further Reading & Resources

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

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