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

The late 20th and early 21st centuries were periods of change in food production, such that artificial and chemical foodstuffs are pervasive in the American consumer market. Consider how Dr. Wiley might view certain food products currently available to consumers. What might he think of the marketing techniques and disclosure practices mandated by the FDA? Which types of foods and processing methods might he object to? How might he respond to the profitable industry of foods marketed as “diet,” including alternatives, supplements, and performance powders, that so many Americans regularly ingest?

Dr. Wiley loved Anna Kelton from the moment he saw her. After he proposed to her and she declined his offer, he never asked someone else to marry him, not until he and Anna reconnected many years later. Not much is known about Dr. Wiley’s personal relationships other than his enduring affection for the woman who would become his wife. What does his loyalty to her indicate about who Dr. Wiley was on a human level?

Consider the following values instilled in Dr. Wiley’s upbringing and examine how they manifest throughout his life: appreciation of food directly from one’s own farm; religious teachings of his father; the belief in the abolition of slavery and manumission of enslaved people; and the belief that women are capable and intelligent and should be educated.

Reflect on what is known about the young men who volunteered to be part of the Poison Squad. What drove them to participate in Dr. Wiley’s study? What was assumed about them because they participated? What do you think would be the most difficult aspects of the study to comply with? If you were a young man during the period, would you volunteer to be part of the Poison Squad? What would encourage you to do so? What might give you pause?

The Heinz company was one of the first to change their ingredients, recipe, and methods to produce clean, safe, pure ketchup, and later other products set to the same standards. What motivated Heinz to break from his peers in the industry and take a moral stand for pure food? What changes did he notice when he altered his practices? What benefits did he find? What else was he inspired to do as a businessman by taking this step?

How has the food manufacturing industry changed in the time since Dr. Wiley’s advocacy for hygienic protocols, safe additives, and full disclosures of ingredient lists? What practices in advertising and manufacturing trace their origins to this period? Examine some food product labels and evaluate the information they contain. Are all the ingredients easily recognizable? How does the advertising relate to or reflect what is actually in the product? How might it be considered deceptive?

Dr. Wiley was concerned with the contents of over-the-counter medications and tinctures which made promises without any evidence of their efficacy. Today, the business of vitamins, supplements, and natural remedies is a multibillion-dollar industry, but many of these products have not been evaluated by the FDA. What do you think Dr. Wiley would think of the sale and manufacture of these products? Would he be concerned about the potency and purity of these additives? Would he recommend changes to the way these products are manufactured and marketed? How are these products similar or dissimilar to the “snake oils” that were under scrutiny at the turn of the 20th century? Are they targeted to any specific population?

Consider the types of foods, beverages, and snacks currently marketed specifically to children. Dr. Wiley was concerned about vulnerable populations, especially children. What are some food brands and products which have children as their target consumer? What tactics do they use to encourage children to ask for these products? What assurances to they promise caregivers who might provide these products to children? What is the discrepancy between the advertising they use to draw in their customers and the real nutritional value of these items? Compare and contrast those items which are considered “junk” food versus “health” food. How is their presentation different?