The desire for profit has driven hundreds of people to eat sweets adulterated with arsenic
The celebrations linked to Halloween today are the product of a mix of pagan and Christian traditions, myths and legends, seasoned with consumerism. Many cultures maintain several ancient funeral rites, although today we inevitably associate Halloween with mountains of candy. Unfortunately for the residents of a small British town, the sale of some innocent sweets ended in tragedy.
It happened in the mid-19th century, at the height of the Victorian era, at the height of the British Empire and the rapid development of cities driven by the Industrial Revolution. This industrialization, however, has brought with it a precarious urban life full of dangers, especially in terms of public health. The fact that poisonings, accidental or intentional, were common didn’t help either.
A consequence of this new urban lifestyle was the standardization of a new social order, with the significant development of the working class and even the middle class, who could now access goods and resources previously reserved for the wealthy. A clear example was gluttony, once reserved for nobles and kings, which now takes on new forms to satisfy the gluttony of the entire population.
It was the century of the expansion of the biscuit, chocolate and cake industry, but also of the world of hard sweets, easier and cheaper to produce, preserve, transport and sell. There was only one problem: the sugar it was incredibly expensive. And it was necessary to do business.
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Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
