Meat Inspection Act

The Meat Inspection Act, passed in 1906 during The Progressive Era, was a crucial step towards ensuring food safety and consumer protection. It came about largely due to public outrage after Upton Sinclair's novel "The Jungle" exposed unsanitary conditions in the meatpacking industry. This act highlighted the growing demand for government regulation to protect public health, a tension between business interests and consumer safety that still exists today. For example, when you buy meat at a grocery store now, you can trust it meets certain health standards because of such regulations. This assurance impacts daily life by allowing families to safely prepare meals without worrying about unseen dangers, reflecting the ongoing importance of food safety standards.