Oleomargarine: The Contest, The Conman and The Controversies

A Quirky History of Oleomargarine

De: Cherie K. Miller, B. Cohen

Narrado por: Virtual Voice

Oleomargarine: A Contest, A Conman, and Controversies: A Quirky History of Oleomargarine is more than a food story—it’s a tale of politics, power, and buttered toast gone rogue. With humor and a historian’s eye, Cherie K. Miller unpacks how a humble butter substitute sparked riots in statehouses, Supreme Court battles, Prohibition-style smuggling, and even a French conman’s career of deception.

From clandestine Wisconsin border runs in the family Volkswagen to Napoleon’s original contest for a cheap soldier’s ration, Miller blends memoir and meticulous research to show how margarine became one of the most controversial foods in American history. Along the way, she spotlights quirky characters—bootlegging housewives, dairy lobbyists, gullible senators, and hucksters with wax-tipped mustaches—each reminding us how food fads and fights are never really just about what’s on the plate.

For readers of food history, cultural studies, or simply anyone who enjoys a good laugh with their toast, this book proves that even the simplest spreads can spark the fiercest debates.