Movie Matinee: Poison Squad

Movie Matinee: Poison Squad
Tuesday, October 21st at 1:00 p.m.

By the end of the Industrial Revolution, America’s food supply was in crisis—filled with fakes, frauds, and untested chemicals that posed serious health risks. The Poison Squad, based on the book by Deborah Blum, invites you to uncover the true story of one man who dared to fight back. You’ll follow Dr. Harvey Wiley, a determined government chemist who made it his mission to remove dangerous substances from the nation’s food. Taking on powerful food manufacturers and their political allies, Wiley led a bold and controversial campaign for change.

In a daring move, he launched a series of experiments on 12 human volunteers—dubbed the “Poison Squad”—to prove just how harmful these food additives could be. Through these eye-opening trials and his relentless push for reform, Wiley became a forgotten hero whose work paved the way for modern consumer protection laws and the founding of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Watch this powerful documentary brings his story to life in a fascinating and eye-opening journey through science, politics, and public health. The film is an hour and fifty minutes, not rated, and made possible through public performance rights by Kanopy.