ID: Pure Food and Drug Act
When: June 30, 1906
Who:
- President Theodore Roosevelt: Championed the act and signed it into law.
- Upton Sinclair: Author of The Jungle, whose exposé of the meatpacking industry fueled public support for food safety regulations. (Indirectly involved, but crucial in raising public awareness).
- Harvey W. Wiley: A chemist who conducted experiments and advocated for food and drug purity. (Indirectly involved, but crucial in providing scientific evidence)
What:
A landmark piece of legislation that prohibited the interstate commerce of adulterated or misbranded food and drugs. It established the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to enforce the law.
Impact: Why Significant?:
- Consumer Protection: The act provided the first significant federal consumer protection against mislabeled or dangerous food and drugs, promoting public health and safety.
- Improved Food and Drug Safety: The law led to improvements in food processing, packaging, and labeling, reducing instances of foodborne illness and fraud.
- Establishment of the FDA: The creation of the FDA established a powerful regulatory agency with a lasting impact on food and drug safety in the United States.
- Increased Government Regulation: The act marked a significant expansion of federal power in regulating private industry in the name of public welfare, paving the way for future consumer protection laws.
- Public Health Impact: By improving food and drug quality, the act significantly reduced disease and death caused by contaminated products.
- Increased Public Trust: The act’s passage helped to restore public trust in the government’s ability to protect consumers from unsafe products.