In 1877, the British Local Government Board found that 50% of gin, 10% of butter, and 8% of bread contained copper, which was added to heighten color. This finding confirmed that food adulteration remained rampant despite previous legislation. The use of copper in food was dangerous, as copper is toxic and can cause liver and kidney damage.

The revelation that half of all gin contained copper was a major scandal that was widely reported in the press and discussed by social reformers. Poets and writers used the statistic to illustrate the extent of commercial fraud and the failure of regulation. The theme of poisoned drink appears in the works of temperance writers and social critics.