The Secret in the Sauce;The Poison Squad Breaking Down Chemicals While Breaking Down

Industry BarriersKatelyn Weisenbeck

Ella Gregerson

Sorry I couldn't get the PDF’s to merge. So I put the process paper and bib here.

The Secret in the Sauce;

The Poison Squad Breaking Down Chemicals While Breaking Down Industry

Barriers

Katelyn Weisenbeck

Ella Gregerson

Junior Division

Group Exhibit

Student Composed Words:500

Process Paper Word Count:479

Process PaperWe wanted something that had changed society forever. My partner and I initially were very interested in the Boston Tea Party,

because it was a topic we were currently studying in school. But after further research, we both agreed it wasn’t for us. After searching

for a new topic and reading article after article we finally stumbled about The Poison Squad. The Poison Squad left a significant

impression on the commercial agricultural enterprise by testing and proving that the preservatives companies were using were harmful

to the human body. We then realized it matched the theme perfectly and it was something we were both interested in so we began

researching.

We started by reading several articles and websites just trying to learn general information about our topic. After becoming

accustomed to our topic we began searching for primary sources. We found several pictures of the experiment, newspaper articles,

quotes, and many political pictures poking fun at the revelation. We discovered that popular books were created based on the topic and

we decided to contact the authors with a few questions and opinions trying to gather more information or a different perspective. They

replied to us, giving us several different pieces of information. After gathering the information we needed, we started to build our

project and began to tell the story.

After reading the rule book and researching the different types of projects, we

decided which one worked best for us. We chose an exhibit because it allowed us to

engage in not only our creative perspective but in our analytical and logical thinking as well.

It was the best of both worlds. With a word limit, we knew we had to keep our summaries

brief while still using other methods like pictures or quotes to tell our full story. We bought a

project board and began brainstorming. We went through several different ideas until we

found the perfect one for us and our story. One of our ideas was a beaker filled with a

noxious looking substance giving the appearance of danger. We decided to have it look like

it was going to be poured on to an apple because an apple represents purity.

Our topic relates to this year’s theme Breaking Barriers because The Poison Squad

broke an industry barrier and forced companies to abandon the cycle they had grown

accustomed to. The experiment was conducted because food companies took pure food

and coated it in toxic substances but Harvey Wiley decided to break barriers and take

charge to change it. It has caused legal action, created a law and is credited for the creation

of the FDA, showing that it made an impact on society and broke barriers. It left such an

imprint on the agricultural community that it still has an effect on today’s food culture and

plays an important role in the current commercial enterprise.

Works Cited

Primary Sources

B., Stuart. New Albony Floyd Country Public Library . Lantern slide of Dr. Harvey W. Wiley quote, ca. 1916,

nafclibrary.pastperfectonline.com/photo/43072268-6B53-4B5E-8241-958658694080. This image benefited the project by gaining information on quotes and pictures, the

picture that was given, as an illustration, it was a quote from Harvey W. Wiley himself. In the quote, he states that it’s his interest in the topic that kept him young.

Beckley, Lindsey. "Dr. Harvey 'Old Borax' Wiley and His Poison Squad." Indiana History Blog, 16 June 2016, blog.history.in.gov/dr-harvey-wiley-and-his-poison-squad/. Accessed

17 Dec. 2019. A collection of pictures regarding the poison squad. Including things like letters, menus, and photos of the members and lab. Also has a small description of

the poison squad and Harvey Wiley's life. As well as quotes from scientists and nutritionists. And the outcome of his experiment.

Chronicling America. The Evening World. 9 June 1906. Library of Congress, SpringShare, guides.loc.gov/chronicling-america-pure-food-drug-act-1906. Accessed 23 Jan. 2020. A

political picture mocking embalmed beef, it includes two men dressed in American clothing smelling beef and complaining about the scent.

Pictures, Political. Good Houskeeping political. 25 Aug. 2010. Good Houskeeping political, atwiki.assistivetech.net/index.php/Harvey_W._Wiley. This picture was used in our border

for our thesis, we used political pictures from that topic to this photo shows that the Pure Food and Drug Act was a big deal.

A Political Cartoon about Thomas Jefferson. 1906. History, Maven,

www.history.com/news/7-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-jungle. Accessed 23 Jan. 2020. A political cartoon showing

Thomas Jefferson standing beside a pond with different words describing the Pure Food and Drug Act and the embalmed beef

scandal, with him holding a rake that has the word "Investigation".

Puck Magazine. A Political Cartoon Mocking the Beef Trust. 1906. The Wall Street Journal, DowJones&Company,

www.wsj.com/articles/the-poison-squad-review-ever-wonder-whats-in-it-1538087162. Accessed 23 Jan. 2020. A cartoon

showing a butcher with an apron that says "beef trust" and he is surrounded by cans and a variety of loose meats with packaging

saying phrases poking fun at the beef trust.

Susdin. "Clipping from the Washington Herald." Newspaper.com, 27 June 2014,

www.newspapers.com/clip/690124/the_washington_herald/. Accessed 8 Jan. 2020. A newspaper clipping talking about the tonic

found in soda and the effects it has on the body.

Thiagarajan, Tara. "Coca Cola on the Brain." Sapien Labs, 20 Nov. 2017, sapienlabs.org/coca-cola-brain/. Accessed 3 Mar. 2020. A

website showing the origins of Coca Cola. It discusses the original motive, marketing, taste, and ingredients. We used the section

on the use of cocaine in the original drink.

"Upton Sinclair>Quotes ." GoodReads, www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/23510.Upton_Sinclair. Accessed 10 Jan. 2020. Quotes from the author Upton Sinclair who wrote the book "The Jungle". It has

quotes from several of his books including the jungle, oil, and just his own personal quotes.

US FDA. "FDA History." Common Wikimedia, Feb. 2019, commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:FDA_History_-_Sure_Cure_Cartoon.jpg. Accessed 16 Jan. 2020. A picture of a political cartoon based on

Harvey and his experiments. It shows a man holding a very large bottle with the words "Old Doc. Wiley's Sure Cure for all adulterations, fake food, quick remedies".

Watson, Bruce. A letter sent to Harvey Wiley in response to his advertisement about the experiment. 1901. Esquire, www.esquire.com/food-drink/food/a23169/poison-squad/. Accessed 3 Mar. 2020. A

picture was taken of a letter sent to Harvey Wiley in response to his interest in volunteers for his experiment. These letters were sent back and forth between Harvey and voluenteers to ensure

they were in proper physical and mental conditions to observe the best results.

Zarrelli, Natalie. "Food Testing in 1902 Featured a Bow-Tie Clad 'Poison Squad' Eating Plates of Acid ." Gastro Obscura , 30 Aug. 2016,

www.atlasobscura.com/articles/food-testing-in-1902-featured-a-tuxedoclad-poison-squad-eating-plates-of-acid. A website with a clear picture of Harvey W Wiley and his Poison Squad, the

picture includes all 12 members and Harvey himself.

Secondary Sources

Carpenter, Daniel P. "Pure Food and Drug Act." Encyclopedia.com, Elite Cafemedia, 21 Dec. 2019, www.encyclopedia.com/history/united-states-and-canada/us-history/food-and-drug-act-1906. Accessed 8

Jan. 2020. A description of the Pure Food and Drug Act and the people who influenced it and created the law. It tells the impact of Harvey Wiley and how the bill was created.

Elyssia Salamanca. "Harvey Wiley." Weebly, 39945472.weebly.com/food-with-no-boundries.html. Accessed 10 Jan. 2020. An NHD project about Harvey Wiley and his experiments.

Gaughan, Anthony. "Harvey Wiley, Theodore Roosevelt, and the Federal Regulation of Food and Drugs." The LEDA, edited by Peter Barton Hutt,

dash.harvard.edu/bitstream/handle/1/8852144/Gaughan.html?sequence=2. This website benefited our project, by helping us understand Roosevelt's roll in the Pure and Drug Act. He helped pass

the law Roosevelt was all for the idea

Grace Wang & Abby Orler. "Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906." Weebly, 2019, 42265766.weebly.com/. Accessed 18 Dec. 2019. A website giving background on the act, food regulation history, and people

how played a large role in creating the document. It includes the full Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906, opinions on GMO's at the time, and information on historical supplements.

"Incidence* of Typhoid Fever, by Year - United States, 1920-1960." CDC, USA.Gov, 24 Aug. 2012, www.cdc.gov/healthywater/observances/dww-graph.html. Accessed 30 Jan. 2020. A web state showing

typhoid fever throughout the years. Typhoid fever is caused by bacteria found in food it was very common in the 1900s.

Jarrow, Gail. The Poison Eaters: Fighting Danger and Fraud in Our Food and Drugs. E-book, New York, Calkins Creek, an imprint of Boyds Mills & Kane, 2019. A book on the history of food

preservatives and the poison squad, Written by Gail Jarrow in 2019 in brings a modern approach to a classic experiment. Using factual evidence it gives a very thorough description of his

life-changing experiment.

Lavender, Natasha. "30 Surprising Foods People Started Eating During The Aughties (1900 To 1910)." So Yummy, 15 May 2019, soyummy.com/aughties-food/. Accessed 19 Dec. 2019. A blog stating

different types of food commonly ate in the 1900s. From breads, casseroles, and drinks. It includes information on the regulations they had to incorporate and how the food was different before

the act.

Lim, Alexa. "Borax: It's What’s for Dinner." Science Friday, 5 Oct. 2018, www.sciencefriday.com/segments/the-chemist-and-the-poison-squad-that-fought-for-food-safety/. Accessed 8 Jan. 2020. A general

website discussing Harvey's experiment. Including names, dates, and several pictures or drawings it covers all of his experiments.

List, Gary R. "Harvey W. Wiley (1844-1930)." AOCS Lipids Library , The American Oil Chemists' Society, Feb. 2005,

lipidlibrary.aocs.org/resource-material/the-history-of-lipid-science-and-technology/harvey-w-wiley-(1844-1930). Accessed 8 Jan. 2020. A website talking about Harvey's work and

accomplishments. It gives a general overview of his life and tells about his most well-known experiment, The Poison Squad. It states the impact the experiment had on society and why it was

important.

Preservatives. www.fao.org/3/a-au117e.pdf. Accessed 19 Dec. 2019. A website describing the common preservatives used in food. It informs on the history on additives and the current additives used.

"The Pure Food and Drug Act." History, Art, and Archives, history.house.gov/Historical-Highlights/1901-1950/Pure-Food-and-Drug-Act/. Accessed 19 Dec. 2019. A website stating the facts about the Pure

Food and Drug Act of 1906. It tells on the people that influenced it, the reaction of the public, and why it was created.

"The Pure Food and Drug Act." The Pure Food and Drug Act, nhd-purefoodanddrugact.weebly.com/resultsimpact.html. Accessed 18 Dec. 2019. A website describing the history and effect of the Pure Food

and Drug Act of 1906. Including a thesis, timeline, and reactions of the public.

Relsert, Sarah. "Harvey Wiley's Fierce Pursuit of Food Safety." Science History Institute, 20 July 2019,

www.sciencehistory.org/distillations/harvey-wileys-fierce-pursuit-of-food-safety. Accessed 19 Dec. 2019. A website including information on Harvey Wiley and the Poison

Squad. It discusses Harvey's background, the experiment, the Pure Food and Drug Act, and the outcome of his experiment. It includes pictures of the squad and lab as well

as political cartoons.

Robert Cowley, Della Gibson, and Chanda Sewell. "Pure Food and Drug Acts." Eat Real Food, historyofeating.umwblogs.org/pure-food-and-drug-acts/. Accessed 19 Dec. 2019. A

website talking about the impact of the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906. Including the people that made an influence like Harvey Wiley.

Simone, Gina. "Food Additives & Preservatives." The Unhealthy Truth, Gina Simone, 2019, fastfoodnationhonorsproject.weebly.com/food-additives--preservetives.html. Accessed 17

Dec. 2019. A website talking about common additives in food used in present times and past times. It gives specific details on dyes, and different additives added to specific

food in the 1900s. It takes about where the additive is found and how it affects the human body.

Zarrelli, Natalie. "Food Testing in 1902 Featured a Bow Tie-Clad 'Poison Squad' Eating Plates of Acid." Atlas Obscura, 30 Aug. 2016,

www.atlasobscura.com/articles/food-testing-in-1902-featured-a-tuxedoclad-poison-squad-eating-plates-of-acid. Accessed 8 Jan. 2020. A website giving a general

description of the experiment. It includes pictures, quotes, and cartoons related to the experiment.