*******Washington Post Best Children's Book
Formaldehyde, borax, salicylic acid. Today, these chemicals are used in
embalming fluids, cleaning supplies, and acne medications. But in 1900,
they were routinely added to food that Americans ate from cans and
jars.******
In 1900, products often weren't safe because unregulated, unethical
companies added these and other chemicals to trick consumers into buying
spoiled food or harmful medicines. Chemist Harvey Washington Wiley
recognized these dangers and began a relentless thirty-year campaign to
ensure that consumers could purchase safe food and drugs, eventually
leading to the creation of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or
FDA, a US governmental organization that now has a key role in
addressing the COVID-19/Coronavirus pandemic gripping the world today.
Acclaimed nonfiction and Sibert Honor winning author Gail Jarrow
uncovers this intriguing history in her trademark style that makes the
past enthrallingly relevant for today's young readers.
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