A review by angiebayne
The Poison Eaters: Fighting Danger and Fraud in Our Food and Drugs by Gail Jarrow

4.0

Jarrow does it again with her fantastic nonfiction. The Poison Eaters is all about our food and medicines and the things that are in them. It is the history of the FDA told through the biography of Dr. Wiley. Dr. Wiley was a pioneer in safe, unadulterated food and an advocate throughout his career. It is because of Dr. Wiley and many others that our food doesn't have cocaine and rat poison and rotted meat in it. It amazes me that businesses would go to such an extent to make a profit that they would put just about anything in a can or package and sell it. The same goes for "tonics" and other over the counter medicines that were often just alcohol. Fascinating story about our food history.