The Great Cranberry Scare of 1959 was a pivotal moment in US food regulation history, sparked by concerns over aminotriazole, a chemical used in cranberry cultivation. The scare led to a reevaluation of the Delaney Clause, which prohibited the use of carcinogens in food, and ultimately resulted in its repeal in 1992. [... more]

The Great Cranberry Scare of 1959 was a food scare that resulted in the nation's first great food scare, changing the way Americans looked at their food, trusted their government, and consumed their cranberries. The scare was triggered by a new regulation that ran into a venerable product, cranberries, and resulted in the discovery of a carcinogenic herbicide called aminotriazole. The incident led to a re-evaluation of the Delaney Clause, a landmark consumer protection law, and ultimately led to its repeal in 1992. [... more]