Food and Nutrition through the 21st Century: Food Technology and Regulations
Created by Health Science Librarians
Age of Patent Medicine and False Advertising
Before the 1900s, mislabeling of foods and drugs was common, and often intentional. States had primary control over domestically produced products. Many foods and drugs carried unsubstantiated health claims such as cures for cancer or baldness.
Labels did not necessarily reflect what was in the product. In the following pictures, the tomato paste is only 14% tomatoes, and the maple syrup is only 1.5% maple syrup.
- Sour Stomachs and Galloping HeadachesA short article with images of patent medicine and false advertising made or sold in North Carolina
Food and Drug Safety Laws
- Death in a Pot (1900)Article published in the Bulletin of the North Carolina Board of Health on the adulteration of meat
- The Jungle by Upton Sinclair (Video trailer)A fake movie trailer based on the book The Jungle by Upton Sinclair. This book prompted the federal government to pass the Pure Food and Drug Act.
- A Century of Ensuring Safe Foods and CosmeticsAn overview of food and cosmetic safety laws from the FDA
Food and Nutrition Labels
- History of Nutrition LabelingA detailed history of nutrition labeling from the report written by the Committee on Examination of Front-of-Packing Nutrition Rating Systems and Symbols in 2010.
- Nutrition Label Getting an Update (Food and Health Communications)This article compares the proposed changes to the nutrition facts label to the current label.
In Pursuit of Freshness
- Transportation of FoodAn encyclopedia article on the history of food transportation, including refrigerated railroad cars and the global cool chain.
- Food Processing & ManufactureA digital exhibit from Cornell University.
- Frozen FoodAn encyclopedia article on frozen food from its development to its use today.
Workers loading cheese into a refrigerated car in West Jefferson, North Carolina (1940s)
Source: North Carolina Digital Heritage Center & Ashe County Public Library
Kitchen Technology
- Kitchen TechnologyA digital exhibit from Cornell University, which includes images and advertisements for new kitchen technology.
- RefrigeratorsA short article on the invention and use of refrigerators.
- Microwave OvensMicrowave ovens came out of experiments with radar during World War II. This short article discusses its invention, and obstacles to adoption. Today the microwave oven is one of the most popular kitchen appliances.
This is the kitchen of Blandings Dream House in Rocky Mont, NC built after World War II. It is considered a modern kitchen with all the new appliances available at the time.
Source: North Carolina Digital Heritage Center & Braswell Memorial Library