The 1750s Food Safety and the Bread Acts
Poets involved
What happened
The 1750s saw the passage of the Making of Bread Act 1757, which was a response to reports of bakers using alum, chalk, and powdered bones to whiten bread. The act was an early attempt to regulate food quality in Britain, though it was difficult to enforce. The decade also saw the Manchester bread riot (1757), which highlighted public anger over food fraud.
Literary impact
The 1750s were a period of literary activity, with poets like Samuel Johnson and Thomas Gray producing significant works. The theme of food adulteration was a subject of social commentary and satire, and it appeared in the works of writers who were concerned with the condition of the poor. The decade also saw the rise of the popular press, which covered food safety issues.
Source: Wikipedia
