The History of American Food

Do your own research is quite the thing to say - but imagine if there were no laws... iand more importantly no regulations around what you could say about what was in in your food, or what your medicine does.
All the research in the world would do you no good if anyone could say anything - and there were no repercutuions for simply making things up. This was the landscape in the 19th century, and from it grew our first laws on food purity and food and drug safety. They were vague, hard to enforce and full of holes, but for the first time there were consequences for selling strawberry jam with no strawberries, or selling milk that literally killed children.

It's a never ending fight... but a good one. Hear all about it.

Books: (CHeck your local library - that's where I got my copies!)
The Poison Squad
Feed the People
The Jungle Check out this cool Graphic Novel!

Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle

Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood

Thi week I argue that you should pay attention to how the sausage gets made. And not doing so resulted in the bland, mostly the same American sausages that ruled the 20th century... AKA the hot dog. This is mostly sad, but not too bad.

What was worse - making a joke about how bad sausage making was resulted in conditions that were so bad that people were getting sick and dying from sausage.
Very Bad,

But this did result in insituting food safety, That's Good.

However, becasue our food safety does the bare minimum... it results in lots of bland food. That we live with today.

If you want to learn some easy sausage you can make at home - that is super tasty, swing by my substack

Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle

Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood

Normally my episodes are not timely - but it is fun to be releasing an episode on the start of the Modern American Beer Style when two of the great beer cities in the US are both in the MLB playoffs.

After all the Brewers are 1 of 2 MLB teams that have never won a world series. I know this becasue I live in Seattle. The Brewers have one up on us. They have been TO the World Series.

Anyway - join me to find out why "Cold" is so often used as a superlative in American Beer

Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle

Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood

There are lots of moments that have changed American Food - sugar imports, the discovery of sweet oranges, but nothing - to me is as defining as the mechanical manufacture of ice. It is at the base of the food system we live in today. For better or for worse, the popular dinner of pre-cooked rotisserie chicken on a salad of bagged greens is not possible without this step.

So come along and find out about the democritization of ice cream, and the furthering of the US as the beef eating captal of the world.

Also - here is your link to Fancy Ices by Agnes B Marshall

and another important book for this episode - The History of Cookbooks by Henry Notaker

Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle

Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood

Last Science Episode for awhile. This one is all about fats.

What they are, what they do in our bodies, and some wild speculation about what effects our solid past had on our cooking and even our rush to refrigeration.

So come along and learn about fats and strang butter substitutes.

Also - The Dinosaur Neil Episode of The Tick- https://youtu.be/bY5pWlU3Mr8?si=Kx-Yh8DNAxQIxqRK

and visit me on Substack - this time I talk about why we are bad a fake fats.

Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle

Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood

Come listen while I answer the important questions:

What is a Carbohydrate? Tune in!

Can you actually eliminate all sugar from your diet? Yes! But No in 3 ways.

and

Can you truly live on meat alone?

Also - The Dinosaur Neil Episode of The Tick- https://youtu.be/bY5pWlU3Mr8?si=Kx-Yh8DNAxQIxqRK

and visit me on Substack!

Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle

Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood

Science - it is back!

America has long had a thing about thinking about food as components rather than ingredients.

So to help you navigate through what some of these parts are - I'll be doing some science at you. This week - Protein!

Links:

Velella Photo - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2022.817196/full

The Dinosaur Neil Episode of The Tick- https://youtu.be/bY5pWlU3Mr8?si=Kx-Yh8DNAxQIxqRK

Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle

Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood

I'll just grab a glass of milk...

When did that become a thing? Becasue - it is a VERY American thing. RIght up there with cold cereal for breakfast.

Turns out - it became possible at the end of the 19th century. But all the moving parts that had to come together to make it happen are kindof increadible. So come with me on the journey to find out just how a glass of milk at home became possible

Bridgerton Clip with Anachronistic Milk Drinking:
https://youtu.be/AwdTS5uY1KA?si=h4Ywxe8B0thq1Ea-

Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle

Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood

This week we bust open the most United States of America food of all.
Cold Cereal
My research has lead me to this - Cold Cereal is the first thing that can be claimed as the first Original Food of the USA.
Pumpkin Pie... maybe?
Bacon Cheese Burger - I'll consider it.
Fried Chicken sandwich - my favorite contender.... but late.

Let's talk about how the conditions of colonial America lead to Tony the Tiger and Frosted Flakes.

But we aren't there yet. Instead it is bad... but fast cereal.

To know how bad - check out my new Substack!
The First Cold Cereal

Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle

Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood

An important element essential to modern American food didn't happen until the end of the 19th century. But as with so many of the other elements that are underpinnings of American food - it is not a food at all. Instead it is paper made of trees rather than paper made of cloth that has reached the end of it's life.

And once wood pulp paper becomes part of the scene - how food is transported, labeled and sold will never be the same.

Think about a world before you put could wrap meat in Butcher's Paper, before crackers came in boxes - it looks almost unrecognizable. But come along for the debut of cheap-er paper in American food - and how this changes everything.

Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle

Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood

Hang in there ... and I'll be back.

Hopefully - some interesting posts on the Socials Media

Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle

Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood

This week we go back in time to learn about how we got paper.

It's been with us for a long time, but until the end of the 19th century it was mostly old clothes.

To find out what paper used to be and how we got to paper from trees - tune in.

Also - as promised... the links to the
W.E.B. Du Bois self tour:

https://www.duboisnhs.org/great-barrington-walking-tour/

Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle

Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood

Wanna see bears? gotohttps://explore.org/
See how many Alaskan canneries there where? Or see more about the Diamond NN Cannery?

Follow the links

And then listen in to the rise of canned fish in the late 19th century. Instant protein you can take with you anywhere. The cottage cheese of the 19th century - but no refrigeration needed.

But - being able to can every last oyster and slamon we could get our hands on had a cost - as well as a payoff.

Listen in to find out more

Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle

Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood

Today's corn episode I am reminded that my intial question of do I include corn in my logo or not? I made the correct decision. Corn is there - but it's invisible - it helped feed the beef.

Because this is the episode where corn changes from an obvious food to one that can be present anywhere. With the advent of industrial milled corn starch we have entered the age when corn is as much chemical ingredient as it is food.

So iron your pinafore with starch and sit down to a miander through the past and late 1800's presence of corn in the American Food system.

Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle

Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood

Sugar can reasonably be called "The White Stuff"

It makes us happy - and yet people are willing to abuse it, and commit crimes to make it happen.

The late 19th century is when America goes from eating a similar amount of sugar as the rest of the up and coming mechanical world - to becoming the greediest of all.
The combination of extending sugar plantations out into Cuba, Puerto Rico and now Hawai'i along with the rise of maufactured foods - expecially sweet treats is going to place America at the front of the Suger Consumer Pack. And we'll stay there.

To get into the nitty gritty of Sugar vs. The World - Check out Sidney Mintz Sweetness and Power
To dig deep into what American Corruption looked like at the start of the 20th Century check outThe Teapot Dome Scandal by Laton McCartney

Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle

Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood

This week is the start of a few shows on the bad mic. And it is all my fault.
But "A" mic is still better than no show at all.
Let’s talk salt in late 19th century America. It used to be all about food but isn’t any longer. Listen along as we look out how the Industrial Revolution - especially around food - runs on salt. And how the living away from the farm and shopping in the stores needs salt to happen at all.

Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle

Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood

This week I talk to

Designers, Authors and Storytellers Paul van Ravestein and Monique Mulder about their book
The Pickled CIty Availible in Bookstores now!

We dive into the history, culture and importance of place of pickles. I also learn a few things about why pickles are that way. So listen in to this extra long bonus episode on Pickles, Salt and History

Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle

Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood

How did America become the land of Meat & Potatoes

I don't have all the answers yet - but I think I've found the well spring of the "& potatoes" portion. I'm about to sneak up on the big answer to the meat.
But in the meantime, we look at whether you can have factory culture at the same time you pushing out a wild frontier - and what the potato has to do with it.

Side quests - the origin on the French Fry, the Potato Chip and Breakfast Hash - not to mention why didn't America get the potato blight. (short answer... actually, we did)

Tune in for lots of Potato News

Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle

Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood

Po-tay-toes

Where are they from? Why do we call them Irish? Are they poisonous? And what was the blight? I answer all these questions and more - as well as providing you with a link to a really cool paper published about the origins of potatoes 9 Million Year Ago!

Cell September 2025 Full Text Article on the Origin of Potatoes

Cell Press Release on Potato Origins (less technical)

Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle

Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood

Iron is back and it has a bunch of new tricks up it sleeves. Sure we still cook on it - but it's doing lots of other new things it has never done before.

And that is going to change the way we eat - because what food we get, and how much we have to work to prepare it, and how fast we - and the food can travel is going to upset everything.

So much of how long we think things should take is about to change in a big way.

Hop on - don't miss the train.

Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle

Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood