diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d8b1a35..be3eda1 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -19,22 +19,26 @@ Because html5ever is a Rust library, you will need to have the Rust compiler [in
 
 This dependency is necessary because there are no HTML5 spec compliant parsers written in Elixir/Erlang.
 
-### HTTPoison
-If you are using the provided `Microdata.parse(url: ...)` helper function, your library / application will need to declare a dep on HTTPoison (see below).
-
 ## Installation
 
 - Ensure your build machine has the Rust compiler installed (see above)
-- Add `microdata` to your `mix.exs` deps
-    - If you plan to use the `Microdata.parse(url: ...)` helper function, include a line for `{:httpoison, "~> 1.0"}`
+- Add `microdata` to your `mix.exs` deps as well as a JSON library of your choice
+
 ```elixir
 def deps do
   [
     {:microdata, "~> 0.1.0"},
-    {:httpoison, "~> 1.0"} # optional
+    {:poison, "~> 4.0.1"}
   ]
 end
 ```
+
+- Configure the JSON library in your config.exs
+
+```elixir
+config :microdata, :json_library, Poison
+```
+
 - Run `mix deps.get`
 
 ## Usage
@@ -60,7 +64,7 @@ Thanks muchly to the team + community behind [meeseeks](https://hex.pm/packages/
 Next time you're cooking, **don't risk** getting **raw chicken juice** or **sticky sauces** on your **fancy cookbooks** and **expensive electronics**! We are working on **Connie**, a **conversational cooking assistant** that uses Alexa & Google Home to answer questions like:
 
 > What am I supposed to be doing?
-> 
+>
 > What's next for the lasagna?
 
 We wrote this lib to parse imported recipes and wanted to share it back with the community, as there are loads of ways you might use microdata in your own projects. Hope you enjoy!
diff --git a/config/config.exs b/config/config.exs
index 8901090..a813d50 100644
--- a/config/config.exs
+++ b/config/config.exs
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 # and its dependencies with the aid of the Mix.Config module.
 use Mix.Config
 
+config :microdata, :json_library, Poison
+
 # This configuration is loaded before any dependency and is restricted
 # to this project. If another project depends on this project, this
 # file won't be loaded nor affect the parent project. For this reason,
diff --git a/lib/microdata.ex b/lib/microdata.ex
index 9e8b966..82302e1 100644
--- a/lib/microdata.ex
+++ b/lib/microdata.ex
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ defmodule Microdata do
   Next time you're cooking, **don't risk** getting **raw chicken juice** or **sticky sauces** on your **fancy cookbooks** and **expensive electronics**! We are working on **Connie**, a **conversational cooking assistant** that uses Alexa & Google Home to answer questions like:
 
   > What am I supposed to be doing?
-  > 
+  >
   > What's next for the lasagna?
 
   We wrote this lib to parse imported recipes and wanted to share it back with the community, as there are loads of ways you might use microdata in your own projects. Hope you enjoy!
@@ -141,6 +141,20 @@ defmodule Microdata do
     end
   end
 
+  def json_library do
+    configured_lib = Application.get_env(:microdata, :json_library, Poison)
+
+    unless Code.ensure_loaded?(configured_lib) do
+      IO.warn("""
+      found #{inspect(configured_lib)} in your application configuration
+      for JSON encoding, but module #{inspect(configured_lib)} is not available.
+      Ensure #{inspect(configured_lib)} is listed as a dependency in mix.exs.
+      """)
+    end
+
+    configured_lib
+  end
+
   defp strategies do
     Application.get_env(:microdata, :strategies, @default_strategies)
   end
diff --git a/lib/microdata/strategy/json_ld.ex b/lib/microdata/strategy/json_ld.ex
index 9cb8393..87adc83 100644
--- a/lib/microdata/strategy/json_ld.ex
+++ b/lib/microdata/strategy/json_ld.ex
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ defmodule Microdata.Strategy.JSONLD do
   defp parse_result(result) do
     result
     |> Meeseeks.data()
-    |> Poison.decode()
+    |> Microdata.json_library().decode()
     |> case do
       {:ok, object} -> parse_object(object, %{})
       {:error, _} -> nil
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ defmodule Microdata.Strategy.JSONLD do
       context when is_binary(context) ->
         context
         |> download_context()
-        |> Poison.decode!()
+        |> Microdata.json_library().decode!()
         |> extract_context()
 
       _ ->
diff --git a/mix.exs b/mix.exs
index 26b56a6..60cc3d3 100644
--- a/mix.exs
+++ b/mix.exs
@@ -30,7 +30,8 @@ defmodule Microdata.MixProject do
     [
       {:credo, "~> 0.9.1", only: [:dev, :test], runtime: false},
       {:ex_doc, ">= 0.0.0", only: :dev},
-      {:httpoison, "~> 1.0"},
+      {:httpoison, "~> 1.7.0"},
+      {:poison, "~> 4.0.1", optional: true},
       {:meeseeks, "~> 0.11.0"},
       {:mix_test_watch, "~> 0.0", only: :dev, runtime: false}
     ]
diff --git a/mix.lock b/mix.lock
index 834ce54..2f96785 100644
--- a/mix.lock
+++ b/mix.lock
@@ -1,24 +1,25 @@
 %{
-  "bunt": {:hex, :bunt, "0.2.0", "951c6e801e8b1d2cbe58ebbd3e616a869061ddadcc4863d0a2182541acae9a38", [:mix], [], "hexpm"},
-  "certifi": {:hex, :certifi, "2.3.1", "d0f424232390bf47d82da8478022301c561cf6445b5b5fb6a84d49a9e76d2639", [:rebar3], [{:parse_trans, "3.2.0", [hex: :parse_trans, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}], "hexpm"},
-  "credo": {:hex, :credo, "0.9.3", "76fa3e9e497ab282e0cf64b98a624aa11da702854c52c82db1bf24e54ab7c97a", [:mix], [{:bunt, "~> 0.2.0", [hex: :bunt, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}, {:poison, ">= 0.0.0", [hex: :poison, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}], "hexpm"},
-  "earmark": {:hex, :earmark, "1.2.6", "b6da42b3831458d3ecc57314dff3051b080b9b2be88c2e5aa41cd642a5b044ed", [:mix], [], "hexpm"},
-  "ex_doc": {:hex, :ex_doc, "0.19.1", "519bb9c19526ca51d326c060cb1778d4a9056b190086a8c6c115828eaccea6cf", [:mix], [{:earmark, "~> 1.1", [hex: :earmark, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}, {:makeup_elixir, "~> 0.7", [hex: :makeup_elixir, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}], "hexpm"},
-  "file_system": {:hex, :file_system, "0.2.6", "fd4dc3af89b9ab1dc8ccbcc214a0e60c41f34be251d9307920748a14bf41f1d3", [:mix], [], "hexpm"},
-  "hackney": {:hex, :hackney, "1.12.1", "8bf2d0e11e722e533903fe126e14d6e7e94d9b7983ced595b75f532e04b7fdc7", [:rebar3], [{:certifi, "2.3.1", [hex: :certifi, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}, {:idna, "5.1.1", [hex: :idna, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}, {:metrics, "1.0.1", [hex: :metrics, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}, {:mimerl, "1.0.2", [hex: :mimerl, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}, {:ssl_verify_fun, "1.1.1", [hex: :ssl_verify_fun, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}], "hexpm"},
-  "httpoison": {:hex, :httpoison, "1.1.1", "96ed7ab79f78a31081bb523eefec205fd2900a02cda6dbc2300e7a1226219566", [:mix], [{:hackney, "~> 1.8", [hex: :hackney, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}], "hexpm"},
-  "idna": {:hex, :idna, "5.1.1", "cbc3b2fa1645113267cc59c760bafa64b2ea0334635ef06dbac8801e42f7279c", [:rebar3], [{:unicode_util_compat, "0.3.1", [hex: :unicode_util_compat, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}], "hexpm"},
-  "makeup": {:hex, :makeup, "0.5.5", "9e08dfc45280c5684d771ad58159f718a7b5788596099bdfb0284597d368a882", [:mix], [{:nimble_parsec, "~> 0.4", [hex: :nimble_parsec, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}], "hexpm"},
-  "makeup_elixir": {:hex, :makeup_elixir, "0.10.0", "0f09c2ddf352887a956d84f8f7e702111122ca32fbbc84c2f0569b8b65cbf7fa", [:mix], [{:makeup, "~> 0.5.5", [hex: :makeup, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}], "hexpm"},
-  "meeseeks": {:hex, :meeseeks, "0.11.0", "479cdc4f1781cd520ff950dd06e8d529c16dbcad45586bfea6d2b6cc5d2409f0", [:mix], [{:meeseeks_html5ever, "~> 0.11.0", [hex: :meeseeks_html5ever, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}], "hexpm"},
-  "meeseeks_html5ever": {:hex, :meeseeks_html5ever, "0.11.0", "5aaf9c895874fded42a40167841964fe30f5b73b217fb4c9e9b83f8337344d3d", [:mix], [{:rustler, "~> 0.20.0", [hex: :rustler, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}], "hexpm"},
-  "metrics": {:hex, :metrics, "1.0.1", "25f094dea2cda98213cecc3aeff09e940299d950904393b2a29d191c346a8486", [:rebar3], [], "hexpm"},
-  "mimerl": {:hex, :mimerl, "1.0.2", "993f9b0e084083405ed8252b99460c4f0563e41729ab42d9074fd5e52439be88", [:rebar3], [], "hexpm"},
-  "mix_test_watch": {:hex, :mix_test_watch, "0.9.0", "c72132a6071261893518fa08e121e911c9358713f62794a90c95db59042af375", [:mix], [{:file_system, "~> 0.2.1 or ~> 0.3", [hex: :file_system, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}], "hexpm"},
-  "nimble_parsec": {:hex, :nimble_parsec, "0.4.0", "ee261bb53214943679422be70f1658fff573c5d0b0a1ecd0f18738944f818efe", [:mix], [], "hexpm"},
-  "parse_trans": {:hex, :parse_trans, "3.2.0", "2adfa4daf80c14dc36f522cf190eb5c4ee3e28008fc6394397c16f62a26258c2", [:rebar3], [], "hexpm"},
-  "poison": {:hex, :poison, "3.1.0", "d9eb636610e096f86f25d9a46f35a9facac35609a7591b3be3326e99a0484665", [:mix], [], "hexpm"},
-  "rustler": {:hex, :rustler, "0.20.0", "6b2cc8149700a7b1df2226dbe273ec1f9449318cad3bd3b5b68125a4cf1f438b", [:mix], [], "hexpm"},
-  "ssl_verify_fun": {:hex, :ssl_verify_fun, "1.1.1", "28a4d65b7f59893bc2c7de786dec1e1555bd742d336043fe644ae956c3497fbe", [:make, :rebar], [], "hexpm"},
-  "unicode_util_compat": {:hex, :unicode_util_compat, "0.3.1", "a1f612a7b512638634a603c8f401892afbf99b8ce93a45041f8aaca99cadb85e", [:rebar3], [], "hexpm"},
+  "bunt": {:hex, :bunt, "0.2.0", "951c6e801e8b1d2cbe58ebbd3e616a869061ddadcc4863d0a2182541acae9a38", [:mix], [], "hexpm", "7af5c7e09fe1d40f76c8e4f9dd2be7cebd83909f31fee7cd0e9eadc567da8353"},
+  "certifi": {:hex, :certifi, "2.5.2", "b7cfeae9d2ed395695dd8201c57a2d019c0c43ecaf8b8bcb9320b40d6662f340", [:rebar3], [{:parse_trans, "~>3.3", [hex: :parse_trans, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}], "hexpm", "3b3b5f36493004ac3455966991eaf6e768ce9884693d9968055aeeeb1e575040"},
+  "credo": {:hex, :credo, "0.9.3", "76fa3e9e497ab282e0cf64b98a624aa11da702854c52c82db1bf24e54ab7c97a", [:mix], [{:bunt, "~> 0.2.0", [hex: :bunt, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}, {:poison, ">= 0.0.0", [hex: :poison, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}], "hexpm", "dcd1d45626f6a02abeef3fc424eaf101b05a851d3cceb9535b8ea3e14c3c17e6"},
+  "earmark": {:hex, :earmark, "1.2.6", "b6da42b3831458d3ecc57314dff3051b080b9b2be88c2e5aa41cd642a5b044ed", [:mix], [], "hexpm", "b42a23e9bd92d65d16db2f75553982e58519054095356a418bb8320bbacb58b1"},
+  "ex_doc": {:hex, :ex_doc, "0.19.1", "519bb9c19526ca51d326c060cb1778d4a9056b190086a8c6c115828eaccea6cf", [:mix], [{:earmark, "~> 1.1", [hex: :earmark, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}, {:makeup_elixir, "~> 0.7", [hex: :makeup_elixir, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}], "hexpm", "dc87f778d8260da0189a622f62790f6202af72f2f3dee6e78d91a18dd2fcd137"},
+  "file_system": {:hex, :file_system, "0.2.6", "fd4dc3af89b9ab1dc8ccbcc214a0e60c41f34be251d9307920748a14bf41f1d3", [:mix], [], "hexpm", "0d50da6b04c58e101a3793b1600f9a03b86e3a8057b192ac1766013d35706fa6"},
+  "hackney": {:hex, :hackney, "1.16.0", "5096ac8e823e3a441477b2d187e30dd3fff1a82991a806b2003845ce72ce2d84", [:rebar3], [{:certifi, "2.5.2", [hex: :certifi, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}, {:idna, "6.0.1", [hex: :idna, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}, {:metrics, "1.0.1", [hex: :metrics, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}, {:mimerl, "~>1.1", [hex: :mimerl, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}, {:parse_trans, "3.3.0", [hex: :parse_trans, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}, {:ssl_verify_fun, "1.1.6", [hex: :ssl_verify_fun, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}], "hexpm", "3bf0bebbd5d3092a3543b783bf065165fa5d3ad4b899b836810e513064134e18"},
+  "httpoison": {:hex, :httpoison, "1.7.0", "abba7d086233c2d8574726227b6c2c4f6e53c4deae7fe5f6de531162ce9929a0", [:mix], [{:hackney, "~> 1.16", [hex: :hackney, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}], "hexpm", "975cc87c845a103d3d1ea1ccfd68a2700c211a434d8428b10c323dc95dc5b980"},
+  "idna": {:hex, :idna, "6.0.1", "1d038fb2e7668ce41fbf681d2c45902e52b3cb9e9c77b55334353b222c2ee50c", [:rebar3], [{:unicode_util_compat, "0.5.0", [hex: :unicode_util_compat, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}], "hexpm", "a02c8a1c4fd601215bb0b0324c8a6986749f807ce35f25449ec9e69758708122"},
+  "makeup": {:hex, :makeup, "0.5.5", "9e08dfc45280c5684d771ad58159f718a7b5788596099bdfb0284597d368a882", [:mix], [{:nimble_parsec, "~> 0.4", [hex: :nimble_parsec, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}], "hexpm", "d7152ff93f2eac07905f510dfa03397134345ba4673a00fbf7119bab98632940"},
+  "makeup_elixir": {:hex, :makeup_elixir, "0.10.0", "0f09c2ddf352887a956d84f8f7e702111122ca32fbbc84c2f0569b8b65cbf7fa", [:mix], [{:makeup, "~> 0.5.5", [hex: :makeup, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}], "hexpm", "4a36dd2d0d5c5f98d95b3f410d7071cd661d5af310472229dd0e92161f168a44"},
+  "meeseeks": {:hex, :meeseeks, "0.11.2", "aa84fb21f6391ee3c60ba749c73ca2a67e1c96e7f8baac444eaac8355964d147", [:mix], [{:meeseeks_html5ever, "~> 0.11.1", [hex: :meeseeks_html5ever, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}], "hexpm", "64c491d3ac8e37d1b29a910cc73a58f98e94b03804dde14e4a3f9bd778e50aef"},
+  "meeseeks_html5ever": {:hex, :meeseeks_html5ever, "0.11.1", "aa2cd25021e055e0bd206beae73660cc198a6c90a3a6eca1aee8e8d7c48307b7", [:mix], [{:rustler, "~> 0.20.0", [hex: :rustler, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}], "hexpm", "37bfe0f19f1d4742b932b25513d30d8788d7f7bc71572f67d936f035f65f7efd"},
+  "metrics": {:hex, :metrics, "1.0.1", "25f094dea2cda98213cecc3aeff09e940299d950904393b2a29d191c346a8486", [:rebar3], [], "hexpm", "69b09adddc4f74a40716ae54d140f93beb0fb8978d8636eaded0c31b6f099f16"},
+  "mimerl": {:hex, :mimerl, "1.2.0", "67e2d3f571088d5cfd3e550c383094b47159f3eee8ffa08e64106cdf5e981be3", [:rebar3], [], "hexpm", "f278585650aa581986264638ebf698f8bb19df297f66ad91b18910dfc6e19323"},
+  "mix_test_watch": {:hex, :mix_test_watch, "0.9.0", "c72132a6071261893518fa08e121e911c9358713f62794a90c95db59042af375", [:mix], [{:file_system, "~> 0.2.1 or ~> 0.3", [hex: :file_system, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}], "hexpm", "817dec4a7f6edf260258002f99ac8ffaf7a8f395b27bf2d13ec24018beecec8a"},
+  "nimble_parsec": {:hex, :nimble_parsec, "0.4.0", "ee261bb53214943679422be70f1658fff573c5d0b0a1ecd0f18738944f818efe", [:mix], [], "hexpm", "ebb595e19456a72786db6dcd370d320350cb624f0b6203fcc7e23161d49b0ffb"},
+  "parse_trans": {:hex, :parse_trans, "3.3.0", "09765507a3c7590a784615cfd421d101aec25098d50b89d7aa1d66646bc571c1", [:rebar3], [], "hexpm", "17ef63abde837ad30680ea7f857dd9e7ced9476cdd7b0394432af4bfc241b960"},
+  "poison": {:hex, :poison, "4.0.1", "bcb755a16fac91cad79bfe9fc3585bb07b9331e50cfe3420a24bcc2d735709ae", [:mix], [], "hexpm", "ba8836feea4b394bb718a161fc59a288fe0109b5006d6bdf97b6badfcf6f0f25"},
+  "rustler": {:hex, :rustler, "0.20.0", "6b2cc8149700a7b1df2226dbe273ec1f9449318cad3bd3b5b68125a4cf1f438b", [:mix], [], "hexpm", "0d99b11a287f0d378b914a776d938fb363db300819a82ce1097a24f7c26bc79b"},
+  "ssl_verify_fun": {:hex, :ssl_verify_fun, "1.1.6", "cf344f5692c82d2cd7554f5ec8fd961548d4fd09e7d22f5b62482e5aeaebd4b0", [:make, :mix, :rebar3], [], "hexpm", "bdb0d2471f453c88ff3908e7686f86f9be327d065cc1ec16fa4540197ea04680"},
+  "toml": {:hex, :toml, "0.5.2", "e471388a8726d1ce51a6b32f864b8228a1eb8edc907a0edf2bb50eab9321b526", [:mix], [], "hexpm", "f1e3dabef71fb510d015fad18c0e05e7c57281001141504c6b69d94e99750a07"},
+  "unicode_util_compat": {:hex, :unicode_util_compat, "0.5.0", "8516502659002cec19e244ebd90d312183064be95025a319a6c7e89f4bccd65b", [:rebar3], [], "hexpm", "d48d002e15f5cc105a696cf2f1bbb3fc72b4b770a184d8420c8db20da2674b38"},
 }