From Superheroes to Safe Food: What Immigration, WWII, and Culture Teach Us About Food Systems

September is National Food Safety Education Month, a time to spotlight the crucial role food safety plays in public health, industry standards, and everyday lives. But ensuring a safe food supply isn’t just about science and sanitation … it’s also about people, history, and perception

When we talk about food safety, we often focus on what’s visible: handwashing, labeling, inspections. But behind every regulation and practice lies a cultural narrative. Dr. Detwiler, a leader in food policy and public health, invites us to look deeper through this thought-provoking 9-minute lecture video, as he discusses:

• What do superheroes (and their origins) say about our fears and values?

• How did Ellis Island and immigration influence the food workforce?

• What role did immigrant labor play in the growth of agriculture in the American West?

• How did World War II shift perceptions around food, safety, and the ‘other’?

This isn't just history. It’s the foundation of the systems we still rely on - and reform - today.

To explore this broader view, we invite you to watch a powerful video by Dr. Darin Detwiler, a leading voice in food policy and safety. Watch now: “Immigration’s Role in Shaping the Food Industry at the Turn of the Century [8:59] 

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