Ep 2. The Poison Squad

In season 32 of American Experience, episode 2 titled "The Poison Squad," viewers are taken on a journey through the late 19th and early 20th century where the food industry was rife with misleading labels and harmful ingredients. Against this backdrop, a group of young scientists known as the "Poison Squad" emerged to take on the industry and advocate for greater food safety laws.

The episode focuses on the work of Dr. Harvey Wiley, a chemist who led the fight for safer food in America. He believed that food companies should be held accountable for the ingredients they used in their products and pushed for the passage of the 1906 Pure Food and Drug Act, which established regulations governing the labeling and contents of food products.

The episode delves into the experiments conducted by the Poison Squad, which involved consuming foods and beverages laced with various harmful chemicals. The idea was to study the effects of these chemicals on the human body and help raise awareness of the need for safer food regulations.

Viewers will also get a glimpse of the political climate at the time, as big business fought fiercely against Wiley's efforts to regulate the industry. The episode highlights the role of muckraking journalists who exposed the corrupt practices of food companies in an effort to push for change.

Overall, "The Poison Squad" offers a fascinating look at an era when the government had little oversight of the food industry. Through interviews with historians and archival footage, the episode provides insights into the political and social forces that shaped this period of history. It is a timely reminder of the importance of government oversight and advocacy in safeguarding public health.