Food safety is not a new concept. In the 1880s, women in New York protested against the conditions in slaughterhouses. The advent of a wide-spread outcry about the safety of the food supply can be traced to Upton Sinclair’s “The Jungle,” which was published in 1906. Sinclair had spent several weeks in a Chicago meat-packing plant before penning a scathing portrayal of the conditions under which the animals were kept and the meat was produced. After reading an advance copy of the book, President Theodore Roosevelt prompted congress to create the Food and Drug Administration. The outcry over conditions described in the novel resulted in the issuance of the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 and the Meat Inspection Act of 1906. These laws were the first attempts at regulating the food industry on a federal level.
The next major step in the history of food safety was the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938, which passed only after a five year legislative battle. The FD&C Act authorized standards for the identity and quality of foods along with factory inspections. In 1938 the first food standards were issued which covered canned tomatoes, tomato puree and tomato paste. As you can see, progress was slow and painstaking when it came to food safety legislation. Have you ever noticed that food products never carry a label stating that the food is safe and in compliance with FDA regulations? There was only one time when the FDA allowed such a label: in 1959, the U.S. cranberry crop was recalled right before Thanksgiving to check for a weedkiller which caused cancer in laboratory animals. Berries which were inspected and cleared were allowed to be labeled with a statement that they had been tested and had passed FDA standards.
After outbreaks of botulism tied to low-acid canned foods, the FDA issued low-acid food processing regulations. It wasn’t until 1990 that some standards for food, nutrition labeling, and health claims for food were regulated and made consistent through the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act.Before that Act, there was no standard meaning for terms such as “low fat,” or “light.” As you can see, food safety has been on the public agenda for a very long time. One has to wonder why, with the technological and scientific advances we have made since Upton Sinclair’s time, we are still fighting for a safe food supply. What will it take?
I really enjoyed reading this post. I frequently wonder what I am eating and what it went through before it gets to me. That was an interesting fact about the FDA and food labels for cranberry crops in 1959. I also enjoyed the links in the post; they were very helpful.
ReplyDeleteYou have a lot of interesting information here. You ask why it takes so long for people to fight for a safe food supply. It think that one of several motivations is money. Food company owners want to make the most money which means keeping costs low. Chemicals and methods of cleanliness can be expensive and take more time, costing employers more wages. One would think the safety of one's customers would be more important.
ReplyDeleteI remember reading "The Jungle", and it was enough to make me swear off any kind of meat forever. However, it wasn't until I read a chapter in "Fast Food Nation" about the beef industry that caused me to have an ephiphany. I decided that day I would never eat red meat again; that was about 4 years ago. I think that "Fast Food Nation" is the modern-day equivelant of "The Jungle."
ReplyDeleteThanks for providing such good information. Sometimes all it takes it some good information to shake things up!
Thanks for another interesting blog post. I had heard of Sinclair's book and what it entailed, but have never read it. Thanks also for the information on the cranberry industry and the recall in 1959 and the labeling that came about as a result of it. Cranberries are one of my favorite foods, especially around the Thanksgiving & Christmas holidays. I believe we will always have to stand up and fight for better and safer food production.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your blog! I especially liked the fact that you gave some good links for us readers so that we have the opportunity to read all about the different acts that have been passed. Unlike some of your other readers, I had never heard of "The Jungle" so I may have to take the time and look for that. Thanks for providing us with some great information!
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