In 1999, an FDA food investigator found traces of mercury in America’s favorite sweetener. But when she presented her findings, she was told to stop her research. The incident rang alarm bells — was the FDA covering up threats to public health? More recently, the agency’s sources of funding and their role in the Opioid Crisis have drawn suspicion and critici ... Show More
Oct 7
Panic in the Streets: The War of the Worlds Radio Broadcast
On Halloween Eve, 1938 Orson Welles' The War of the Worlds aired on CBS radio. It detailed an alien invasion so realistic that, according to legend, it caused widespread panic among listeners. People really believed aliens were invading Earth. The mass hysteria is an important pa ... Show More
47m 40s
Sep 30
Did a Psych Experiment Turn Ted Kaczynski into the Unabomber?
On April 3, 1996, Theodore “Ted” Kaczynski – better known as the Unabomber – was arrested, ending a 17-year-long bombing spree that left 3 dead and 23 injured. He promised to end his campaign of terror only after outlets published his 35,000-word manifesto; in his view, technolog ... Show More
42m 36s
Feb 2025
Can I trust the FDA? (from thalidomide to cough medicine)
<p><strong>#206</strong></p>
<p>Melissa and Jam address a listener's question about the FDA's reliability in approving products. They discuss the intersection of chemistry, government, and society, focusing on FDA's role in regulating food and drugs. The episode includes a deep d ... Show More
30m 23s
Mar 2023
Food Additives in Ultra-Processed Packaged Foods: An Examination of US Household Grocery Store Purchases
Senior author Elizabeth K. Dunford, PhD, presents results of the first study to examine what US consumers are purchasing (Nielsen Homescan Consumer Panel data from 2001 and 2019), rather than relying on reported food and beverage intake, to evaluate exposure to food additives in ... Show More
8m 15s
Mar 2025
Why is red food dye banned?
<p><strong>#208</strong></p>
<p>Melissa and Jam dive deep into the topic of FDA regulations, particularly focusing on food additives like red food dye. They discuss the complexities of the FDA's approval process, the Delaney Clause, and recent changes in the regulation of red dye ... Show More
33m 49s