Research chemist Mr. Bensington specialises in "the More Toxic Alkaloids", and Professor Redwood studies reaction times and takes an interest in "Growth".

[2] After a year of research and experiment, he finds a way to make what he calls in his initial enthusiasm "the Food of the Gods" but later more soberly dubs Herakleophorbia IV.

In time, most of the English population comes to resent the young giants, as well as changes to flora, fauna and the organisation of society that become more extensive with each passing year.

Caterham has been promoting a program to destroy the Food of the Gods, hints that he will suppress the giants and now begins to execute his plan.

[c] Caterham employs Redwood père as an envoy to send a proposed settlement, whose terms would demand that the giants live apart somewhere and forgo the right to reproduce.

In this film, the substance, called simply "Goo", is developed by an 11-year-old (Ron Howard) and is consumed by a gang of teenaged troublemakers (led by Beau Bridges), who become giants and take over the town and turn the tables on the knee-high adults.

Based on a portion of the book, it reduces the tale to an "ecology strikes back" scenario, then common in science fiction films.

Dealing with a pack of giant lab rats wreaking havoc on a college campus, it is even further removed from the book than Gordon's attempts.

The Food of the Gods was first adapted for the comics in January 1961 for Classics Illustrated #160 with a painted cover by Gerald McCann, script by Alfred Sundel and interior artwork by Tony Tallarico.

"Deadly Muffins" in Secrets of Sinister House #13 (DC Comics 1973) is an uncredited version of the story written by John Albano and drawn by Alfredo Alcala.