PT Journal AU Brinkmann, S TI "Fight the poisoners of the people!" The beginnings of food regulation in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, 1889-1930 SO Historia, Ciencias, Saude--Manguinhos JI Hist Cienc Saude Manguinhos PY 2017 BP 313 EP 331 VL 24 IS 2 DI 10.1590/S0104-59702017000200003 LA English AB For urban Brazil, the First World War triggered a dramatic food crisis that brought with it a massive increase in falsified goods and led to an uproar among the general public. Critics targeted the health authorities, who were evidently unable to suppress these frauds. This text spans the First Republic period and shows that since its proclamation the issue of regulating the food trade was part of health policies, but implementation was repeatedly delayed because of other priorities. This situation only changed with the health reforms of the early 1920s, which allows us to identify the First World War food crisis as a decisive point for the Brazilian state to take responsibility in this area. ER