Legislation1906
Pure Food and Drug Act Signed
President Theodore Roosevelt signed the Pure Food and Drug Act, prohibiting the manufacture, sale, or transportation of adulterated or misbranded food and drugs. The law was prompted in part by Upton Sinclair's novel "The Jungle," which exposed unsanitary conditions in the meatpacking industry.
Why It Matters
This act established the principle that the federal government has a responsibility to protect consumers from harmful products, creating the foundation for modern food and drug regulation through the FDA.