Against the Grain

It’s in the Can

What’s inside that seemingly unremarkable object: a metal can of food? How did we get to where we are today, where canned food appears so mundane — when, in fact, selling food in a corrodible can to dubious American consumers was an uphill battle for the processed food industry? Historian Anna Zeide looks at the role of trade groups, public relations, and political lobbying in the marketing of canned food.

Resources:

Anna Zeide, Canned: The Rise and Fall of Consumer Confidence in the American Food Industry UC Press, 2018

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