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How did 1900s newspapers describe new food preserving, versus what we know now?
Research question: How did early 20th-century newspaper reports describe the public health impact of new food preservation techniques, and how does that narrative compare to modern scientific understanding?
Early 20th-century reports described food preservatives like borax and formaldehyde as 'mild poisons' that impaired digestion and caused infant deaths, with officials attributing serious illness to these adulterations 52216. Modern scientific understanding aligns with this concern regarding processed meats, as recent studies show that meat-based ready-to-eat products have the strongest consistent associations with increased all-cause mortality 107.
Checked 2026-10-13. Only documented and supported facts are used.
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[1] supported
The Pure Food and Drug Act's main purpose was to ban foreign and interstate traffic in adulterated or mislabeled food and drug products.
"Its main purpose was to ban foreign and interstate traffic in adulterated or mislabeled food and drug products"Pure Food and Drug Act
[2] supported
A 1907 magazine article framed the food law as protecting Americans from adulterations, substitutions, and chemical dyes.
"What The Food Law Saves Us From: Adulterations, Substitutions, Chemical Dyes, and Other Evils"Pure Food and Drug Act
[3] supported
Borax (boracic acid) was the preservative most used to 'embalm' meats, and it was added to Western refrigerated meat in warm weather so it would not spoil in dealers' hands.
"Doracle acid is the agent most used. In warm weather the Western refrigerated meat which constitutes one of the chief foods of New-Yorkers is treated with boraciec acid, so that it will not spoil in the dealers’ hands"Image 43 of New-York tribune (New York [N.Y.]), February 19, 1905
[4] supported
The Chicago Health Commissioner, Whalen, identified the Beef Trust as the greatest foe of public health.
"Health Commissioner Whalen flnds the greatest foe of the public health in the Beef Trust."Image 6 of Chicago eagle (Chicago, Ill.), August 11, 1906
[5] documented
The article described meat preservatives as hardly more than mild poisons.
"which are hardly more or less than mild poisons."Image 43 of New-York tribune (New York [N.Y.]), February 19, 1905
[6] documented
Newspaper reporting attributed poisonings to undrawn poultry, flesh, and game, which were said to be wrongly blamed on other causes.
"Undoubtedly undrawn poultry, flesh, nnd game has caused many cases of poisoning which have wrongfully been attributed to other causes."Image 6 of Chicago eagle (Chicago, Ill.), August 11, 1906
[7] documented
A higher intake of ultra-processed foods was associated with slightly higher all-cause mortality, driven by causes other than cancer and cardiovascular disease.
"This study found that a higher intake of ultra-processed foods was associated with slightly higher all cause mortality, driven by causes other than cancer and cardiovascular diseases."Association of ultra-processed food consumption with all cause and cause specific mortality: population based cohort study (2024)
[8] documented
A Chicago physician, Dr. W. A. Koflewski, held that cold storage products were deleterious however long they were kept on ice.
"Dr, W, A. Koflewskl was decided In his opinions tbat cold storage products were dele- terious, no mnttcr what length of time they were placed on Ice."Image 6 of Chicago eagle (Chicago, Ill.), August 11, 1906
[9] supported
Federal chemist W. A. Wiley organized a 'poison squad' that was fed preserved foods to test their effects on the human body.
"He organized what was known as the “poison squad” and fed it “preserved foods."Image 43 of New-York tribune (New York [N.Y.]), February 19, 1905
[10] supported
Meat, poultry, and seafood-based ready-to-eat products, such as processed meat, showed the most consistently strong associations with mortality.
"Meat/poultry/seafood based ready-to-eat products (for example, processed meat) consistently showed strong associations with mortality outcomes (hazard ratios ranged from 1.06 to 1.43)."Association of ultra-processed food consumption with all cause and cause specific mortality: population based cohort study (2024)
[11] supported
The Chicago Health Department reported finding meats two and three years old in cold storage warehouses.
"Our Inspectors have found meats two and three years old In the ware warehouses,"Image 6 of Chicago eagle (Chicago, Ill.), August 11, 1906
[12] documented
Dr. Wiley reported that formaldehyde added to food is injurious even to healthy young men, and that its harmful effects would be more pronounced in infants and children.
"Formaldehye, when mixed with food, is injurious to food even in the case of healthy young men."Image 14 of The Washington times (Washington [D.C.]), December 23, 1908, (Last Edition)
[13] documented
Seattle newspaper coverage in 1903 framed the deaths of infants as caused by milk adulterated with formaldehyde and other preservatives.
"The Doctors Are Forced to Wage Unequal Battle fAgainst the Formaldehyde Fiend"Image 6 of The Seattle star (Seattle, Wash.), September 18, 1903, (Extra Edition)
[14] documented
Dr. Wiley told the Washington Times that formaldehyde had replaced borax in the tests, and that formaldehyde was probably the most widely used food preservative in the country after borax, mainly in milk.
"in the present tests formaldehyde has been substituted for borax. It is prob. ably the most widely used food pre servative in this country next to horax"Image 29 of The Washington times (Washington [D.C.]), November 20, 1904, (Magazine Features)
[15] documented
Wiley concluded that formaldehyde used to preserve milk and other foodstuffs is decidedly injurious and harms general health and constitution.
"Dr. Wiley finds that formaldehyde, when used as a preservative of milk and other foodstuffs, is decidedly injurious and has a deleterious effect upon the general health and constitution."Image 14 of The Washington times (Washington [D.C.]), December 23, 1908, (Last Edition)
[16] documented
The newspaper published a list of Seattle children who died in August from diseases it attributed to the adulteration and poisoning of milk.
"LIST OF CHILDREN WHO DIED FROM DIS. EASES CAUSED BY THE ADULTERATION"Image 6 of The Seattle star (Seattle, Wash.), September 18, 1903, (Extra Edition)
[17] documented
Wiley argued that if borax were approved as a preservative, the principle would extend to all similar preservatives, which could then be used without harm.
"If, however, the question of borax is decided in favor of its use as a pre preservative - servative preservative of foods, the principal is es established - tablished established that all similar preservatives may be used with impunity."Image 29 of The Washington times (Washington [D.C.]), November 20, 1904, (Magazine Features)
[18] documented
The paper said formaldehyde was used alongside other preservatives in food, including syrup, beef and sausages, and presented this as a danger to public health.
"With formaldehyde in our milk and formaldehyde in mir syrup, and 1 pre servative* on - ur beef and in our sau sages."Image 5 of San Antonio daily light (San Antonio, Tex.), October 5, 1902
[19] documented
Wiley reported that formaldehyde preserved milk from souring but did not stop disease-causing germ growth, so the souring warning sign was suppressed while harmful organisms could develop.
"it does not retard the disease germ growth"Image 14 of The Washington times (Washington [D.C.]), December 23, 1908, (Last Edition)
[20] documented
Dr. Crichton, chairman of the City Council's Health and Sanitation Committee, said he had no doubt that serious illness and many deaths were caused by poisonous adulterations in milk.
"I have not a doubt in the world but that an appalling degree of serious illness and many deaths are caused by. the poisonous adulterations administered in milk"Image 6 of The Seattle star (Seattle, Wash.), September 18, 1903, (Extra Edition)
[21] supported
The experiments were run by Wiley's 'poison squad' of twelve volunteers from the Agricultural Department, who ate meals as he prescribed for two weeks, and the formaldehyde had a bad effect on all of them.
"who ate as he prescribed for twe weeks"Image 14 of The Washington times (Washington [D.C.]), December 23, 1908, (Last Edition)
[22] documented
According to the article, the preservative substances milk dealers used were injurious because antiseptic and preservative drugs act harmfully on the stomach and impair digestion.
"All antiseptic and preservative drugs act injuriously upon the stomach, impairing digestion"Image 6 of The Seattle star (Seattle, Wash.), September 18, 1903, (Extra Edition)
[23] documented
In Wiley's experiments on the effects of borax, the adulterant was sometimes placed in a capsule and given to test men at meal times so that they would not develop a dislike for the food it was in.
"the adulterant has sometimes been placed In a capsule and given to the men at meal times."Image 29 of The Washington times (Washington [D.C.]), November 20, 1904, (Magazine Features)
[24] documented
The article stated that such preservatives could seriously endanger an adult's health but gravely imperil the life of a little child.
"the eventual effect cannot (ail to seriously endanger the health of an adult, while it undoubtedly imperils gravely the life ci a little child"Image 6 of The Seattle star (Seattle, Wash.), September 18, 1903, (Extra Edition)