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In this episode of The Atlas Obscura Podcast, we learn about the public health crisis that once plagued the Midwest—until a simple solution was introduced, involving a ubiquitous cooking ingredient.

Our podcast is an audio guide to the world’s wondrous, awe-inspiring, strange places. In under 15 minutes, we’ll take you to an incredible site, and along the way you’ll meet some fascinating people and hear their stories. Join us daily, Monday through Thursday, to explore a new wonder with cofounder Dylan Thuras and a neighborhood of Atlas Obscura reporters.

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