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A review by sophie_pesek
The Poison Squad: One Chemist's Single-Minded Crusade for Food Safety at the Turn of the Twentieth Century by Deborah Blum
4.0
Read at the recommendation of my environmental toxicology professor!
It’s wild to see how little progress has been made in 100 years: the study techniques are still the same (minus the human subjects), and the uncertainty factors nearly as high. The definition of what’s “injurious” to health is still vague and constantly contested. It’s disheartening to read that the burden of proof has always been with the government, rather than the companies that manufacture compounds for human consumption or use.
Although food regulation has a happier ending with the establishment of the FDA, I can see many parallels between this and the fight for human impact studies being carried out by the EPA now. Thankfully, the food industry has adapted to and overcome stringent regulations- something tells me manufacturers can do the same if PFAS, TCE, alkylphenol, etc. standards are passed.
It’s wild to see how little progress has been made in 100 years: the study techniques are still the same (minus the human subjects), and the uncertainty factors nearly as high. The definition of what’s “injurious” to health is still vague and constantly contested. It’s disheartening to read that the burden of proof has always been with the government, rather than the companies that manufacture compounds for human consumption or use.
Although food regulation has a happier ending with the establishment of the FDA, I can see many parallels between this and the fight for human impact studies being carried out by the EPA now. Thankfully, the food industry has adapted to and overcome stringent regulations- something tells me manufacturers can do the same if PFAS, TCE, alkylphenol, etc. standards are passed.