The Bradford residents who fell ill due to poisoned Halloween peppermints

On October 31, 1858, a batch of tainted sweets caused the deaths of several children in Bradford, England, sparking panic and leading to changes in UK laws. The incident began when a market stall holder named William Hardacre, also known as Humbug Billy, bought peppermint lozenges at a discount from a confectioner named Joseph Neal. Unbeknownst to Hardacre, the sweets had been contaminated with arsenic due to a mix-up at the pharmacy. The tainted sweets were sold to unsuspecting customers, resulting in illnesses and deaths. The police and doctors worked to warn the public about the poisonous sweets, and the incident prompted new regulations regarding the safety of medicines and consumer products. While no one faced criminal charges for the Bradford poisonings, it brought attention to the issue of adulterated foods and eventually led to the passage of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act in 1875.