In today's episode we give an overview of scandals that have happened in the world of chocolate! Happy Valentine's Day

References:

1. Smithsonian Magazine — The Dark History of Chocolate
2. BBC Future — How Chocolate Became a Global Obsession
3. Book: Sweetness and Power by Sidney Mintz
4. FDA History Office — Early food adulteration laws (chocolate & sweets)
5. The Guardian — Articles on modern chocolate labeling & “fake chocolate”

In this episode, we uncover one of the most overlooked and disturbing stories from Prohibition: the federal poisoning program. When industrial alcohol became the main source for bootleg liquor, the U.S. government deliberately increased the toxicity levels to deter drinking — despite public health warnings and mounting deaths. We explore how the program worked, why it continued, how speakeasies tried (and failed) to make the alcohol safe, and what this meant for communities who unknowingly consumed deadly spirits. This is a story of policy gone wrong, a public unaware of the danger, and a chapter of American alcohol history that deserves far more attention.

#prohibition #truecrime #foodhistory #temperanceandtable #chefjennyfox #historypodcast #prohibitionera #toxicspirits #foodcrime