Origin of FDA was Bureau of Chemistry in the US Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Dr. Harvey Washington Wiley – Chief Chemist, Bureau of Chemistry (USDA), appointed in 1882 • Precursor to Commissioner of FDA
“Poison Squad” – Consisted of ~12 men, mostly from USDA – Ate variety of chemical preservatives & coloring agents (e.g., borax, copper sulfate, formaldehyde, saccharine) in increasing doses to demonstrate deleterious effects
