179 Food in Paper, Food in Boxes

The History of American Food · Aug 19, 2026 · 25m

An important element essential to modern American food didn't happen until the end of the 19th century. But as with so many of the other elements that are underpinnings of American food - it is not a food at all. Instead it is paper made of trees rather than paper made of cloth that has reached the end of it's life.

And once wood pulp paper becomes part of the scene - how food is transported, labeled and sold will never be the same.

Think about a world before you put could wrap meat in Butcher's Paper, before crackers came in boxes - it looks almost unrecognizable. But come along for the…