Mrs. Ruland's U.S. History Class Project
Consumer Protection
By: Meghan A., Christina G., Annie A.
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Before the 1900s, consumer protection in the US was inadequate. The novel The Jungle by Upton Sinclair created a movement toward sanitation reform of the food industry. In his writing he expressed the unsanitary ways of the meat factories with vivid descriptions of the rat infested, leaky roofed meat industries. The Jungle described the violent accidents, agonizing deaths, and repulsive illnesses that occurred to workers in the meat packing industry. President Theodore Roosevelt was disgusted by the horrors which occurred in the meat packing industry and pushed Congress to pass the Meat Inspection Act of 1906. American citizen realized the need for more sanitary processes and consumer protection. This act led to the inspection of the livestock and the carcasses in many factories. Also the Pure Food Act called for the inspection of all red meats. Soon after, the Food and Drug Act of 1906 was passed to increase the safety of consumers. The Food and Drug Acts were enforced to prevent the importation and sale of harmful drugs in the United States, due to the harmful addictions that occurred. Also, this act brought an end to altered or misbranded foods. Both the Meat Inspection Act and the Food and Drug Acts raised awareness towards consumer protection.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was created due to the Food and Drug Acts of 1906. The FDA was in charge of enforcing the restrictions on both food and drugs. Non-approved drugs were not to be imported or sold in the United States. Any caught breaking these restrictions would be violating the law. During the early 1900s, most drugs came through the Mexican border, which held connections with many American outlaws. Food was also a criminal target, with misbranded and altered foods, which convinced many Americans. The FDA enforced rules against food fraud, to protect the consumer. The FDA brought a major end to fraud and a rise to consumer protection.
Links :
Food and Drug Administration – FDA
Gives lots of information about the Food and Drug Administration, the regulations it has made and the role of the Administration. The site gives information on many areas of the FDA including the packing and distributing practices, background information, and safety rules. It also has two timelines giving good facts about the history of the administration.
US Food and Drug Administration
The official FDA website, this tells about the start of the FDA and the key people who stressed the need for Acts to protect the consumer. This has information about how people became more aware for the need of reform in food industries.
US Food and Drug Administration
This page is created by the FDA. This has a very good timeline that has consumer protection events throughout history. The timeline includes related events from 1820 to 2005. This contains different types of information about protecting consumers.
This site is from the University Of Louisville. Good facts in an easy to read format about the Meat Inspection of 1906. The site contains the four main requirements of the act. Also has a list of how the inspection was conducted.
What The Jungle Tells Us Today
Nice facts on The Jungle, by Upton Sinclair. Good descriptions on the effect his novel had on the American way of life. Gives great examples as to how it changed, and continues to change American industries.
Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906
This is the actual Pure Food and Drug Act. It includes all sections and restrictions of the act. The site gives a full idea of the main points and minor details, which are not included in many other sites.
Upton Beall Sinclair (1878 - 1968)
This site tells all about Upton Sinclair, his muckraking book The Jungle and its impact on American industries.
The Meat Inspection Act of 1906
Great site from the FDA, with lots of information on the Meat Inspection Act. Easy to read and easy to pull reference from. Many references and quotes from Theodore Roosevelt. Gives great idea of what the President thought and believed.
100 Years Since the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA): A Timeline
Great timeline from the USDA. This site's timeline begins with 1906 and ends in 2006, showing the progression made in 100 years. It really gives the viewer an understanding of consumer protection. Shows the importance of consumer protection in recent times.
Chapter 7 The Pure -Food and Drug Act of 1906
This site is a detailed overview of the Food and Drug Act of 1906. It also includes the United States reactions to the acts. Foot notes are available, and make this site an easy place to learn from. Written by Edward M. Brecher and the Editors of Consumer Reports Magazine, 1972
This site contains lots of information about Upton Sinclair's novel The Jungle and its impact on the Beef Trust and the meat packing industry. Also includes Sinclair's views on the impact he made.
Great site with an easy to read format. Nice notes on the functions and reasons for the meat inspection act. Very detailed information.
The Food and Drugs Act of 1906
The website tells about what the Food and Drug Act does for consumer protection. Tells what Congress hoped to achieve by making the act.
Last updated March 28, 2007
© Marcella Ruland 1998-2011, All rights reserved
