After Marie Curie discovered radium it became a mega-trend across the world. It was the height of fashion to paint your watch with the radioactive element, creating a stylish glow that was in high demand. It soon became the secret ingredient in tonics, face creams, bath salts and even toothpastes, famed for its power to rejuvenate and thought to have extensive health claims.

Now we know that effects of radiation exposure include cancer and genetic damage, we might give radium chocolate a miss...