Spoiled: The Dangerous Truth about a Food Chain Gone Haywire

by Nicols Fox

A distinguished journalist reveals the truth about foodborne illness, explaining how the importing and exporting, processing, packaging, and distribution of food have led to an exposure to a wide variety of dangerous microbes and pathogens. Reprint.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Food

448 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1997

About the author

Nicols Fox is an author and bookseller. Her book AGAINST THE MACHINE: The Hidden Luddite Tradition in Literature, Art, and Individual Lives is now out in paperback.

She is also the author of the essay found in ALONE TOGETHER, a book of David Graham's photographs of Placentia Island.

Her first book, SPOILED: Why our Food is Making us Sick and What We Can Do About It, is in a Penguin paperback edition and now out of print, as is IT WAS PROBABLY SOMETHING YOU ATE: A Practical Guide For Avoiding and Surviving Foodborne Disease.

OTHER WORKS:
Fox's articles, essays and reviews have appeared in THE ECONOMIST, THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE WASHINGTON POST, LEAR'S, NEWSWEEK, THE BOSTON GLOBE, THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES, ART IN AMERICA, THE NEW ART EXAMINER, THE HUNGRY MIND REVIEW (now THE RUMINATOR REVIEW), WASHINGTON JOURNALISM REVIEW (now AMERICAN JOURNALISM REVIEW) WASHINGTONIAN, MAINE TIMES, DOWN EAST, and many other publications.

A graduate of Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Virginia, Fox received an MFA in creative writing and literature from Bennington College in 1999. Born in Virginia, she now lives on the coast of Maine.

Reviews

[Wendi Lau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting. Disturbing.

[Joel Lantz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I guess I'll just go ahead and starve to death.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although published in the 90s, this is still a very compelling read about the disastrous consequences of a tainted food supply. One asks the question - what has changed in the interim, if anything? Another thought - this is a good starter before reading the more recent Omnivore's Dilemma and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. The former discusses where we our food and the issues therein; the latter tells of a family's endeavor to grow/raise their own food and buy locally, the narrative interspersed with factoids regarding different aspects of food/nutrition, as well as recipes.

[Coralie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me forever to get through this book, but it was an eye opener about food borne illnesses. The way food is processed, handled and transported impacts whether or not it is safe. The feed meat animals consume before being slaughtered can cause the meat from these animals to be diseased. It is also important to follow good cooking and serving safety tips in your own home, especially when you are having a party or barbecue. The more locally grown and the less processed your food is, the safer it is.

[Meaghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only times I managed to put this book down were the times I was busy frantically texting my friends and family to talk about this book. Touching on everything from the health practices of food handlers to the consequences of antibiotic use in farm animals this book shows you what happens when consumers demand cheap meat and industry is allowed to police itself.

Also it'll save you cash, it'll be a long time before you're able to order a meal at a restaurant. Believe me.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this was a very technical book, I was impressed by all of the real world examples highlighting new food pathogens. It's frightening that even as a vegetarian still eating fish, identical to the author, I can easily pick up a 'bug' from cross-contamination. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone interested in leaving meat products behind.

[Stephanie Foust · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very scary indictment of late 90's American food chain in this very important book. Food,Inc & other books have come out since & shown not a lot of progress.At least the general population is more aware of the hazards now.Be afraid,be Very Afraid!

[Marlina · Rating 4 out of 5]

a great amount about the importance of good hygiene in terms of eating, preparing, and serving food as well as the potential dangers we face eating in today's world.

[Judith]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/12548993

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great investigatory journalism and excellent writing rips apart the world of “contemporary” farming—from back around the 70s. Good sections on O-157 and mad cow disease.