Today, thanks to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and a suite of food safety regulations, consumers generally do not have to worry that their meals might be contaminated or laced with poisonous chemicals. However, this was not always the case, as is highlighted in the PBS documentary The Poison Squad, which aired January 28, 2020 as part of the American Experience film series. The two-hour film and the book by Deborah Blum on which it is based focus on the work undertaken by government chemist Harvey Wiley to protect consumers from powerful food companies and the dangerous substances tainting the U.S. food supply. The full film is available to view on the page linked above (as of this writing), and viewers can also scroll to the Features section below the embedded video player for links to related content such as digital shorts and articles. A written transcript of the film is available by clicking the down arrow in the Menu under the video player. The Poison Squad was written and directed by John Maggio. Additional funding for the film was provided by The Documentary Investment Group.
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