Nicolas Appert is more important than the inventor of sliced bread. If there's a Mount Rushmore of food, Appert surely deserves a spot. Chances are you've never heard of him.
In the season premiere of Proof, reporter Aria Bracci tells the story of Appert, considered the father of modern-day food preservation. He revolutionized the science of canning food in the early 19th century, and it's because of Appert that food can now travel the world and maintain its taste and freshness.
We can say this without hyperbole: Appert's advances in food safety helped keep people alive and helped spread food culture worldwide. And yet, Appert's name is lost in history—and his single-minded obsession caused much turmoil in his personal life.
It's a fascinating—and almost unbelievable—story of a man who quite literally changed the world. Listen to it in an all-new episode of Proof on your favorite podcast providers.
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