Pure Food and Drug Act 1906 — Reading Comprehension

The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 was a turning point in American history. Before this law, there were few federal rules to protect people from unsafe foods and medicines. Factories could add harmful ingredients, or make false claims about what their products could do. This lack of regulation created serious health problems for many Americans.

The problem became clear as more people moved to cities and depended on packaged foods. Unsanitary factories, spoiled meat, and dishonest labeling often made people sick. Consumers had little power to find out what was really in the food and drugs they bought. Business owners argued that more rules would hurt their profits, while some government officials felt that too much intervention was unfair to private companies.

Reformers and journalists known as muckrakers investigated these dangerous practices. One famous example is Upton Sinclair’s book, The Jungle. Sinclair described filthy conditions in Chicago’s meatpacking plants. His writing shocked the public and led to widespread calls for change. As Sinclair wrote, "There would be meat stored in great piles in rooms; and the water from leaky roofs would drip over it, and thousands of rats would race about on it." This primary source shows how journalists used vivid details to reveal the dangers hidden from everyday people.

Many citizens demanded action. They believed the government should protect them from adulterated foods and drugs. Women’s groups, scientists, and health advocates joined the fight. However, some manufacturers and politicians resisted, arguing that new laws would slow down business and increase costs.

President Theodore Roosevelt eventually supported reform. He faced pressure from both sides: business leaders who wanted less regulation, and the public who wanted more safety. After heated debates in Congress, the Pure Food and Drug Act was passed in June 1906. This law made it illegal to sell mislabeled, contaminated, or harmful foods and medicines across state lines. It also required honest labeling of ingredients, giving consumers more information and power.

The law was not perfect. It created the Bureau of Chemistry, which later became the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, enforcement was weak at first, and many companies found ways to avoid the rules. Despite these problems, the act was a major step toward protecting public health and building trust in the marketplace.

The Pure Food and Drug Act showed the power of ordinary people and journalists to create change. It also revealed how complicated reform can be. Businesses, consumers, scientists, and politicians all had different viewpoints and interests. The debates of 1906 continue to influence how the U.S. regulates food and medicine today.

Interesting Fact: The same day the Pure Food and Drug Act was signed, President Roosevelt also approved the Meat Inspection Act, which set new standards for cleanliness in meatpacking plants.

What year was the Pure Food and Drug Act passed?

Who was president when the act was signed?

What book exposed meatpacking abuses?

What was a main problem before the act?

Why did some business owners resist the law?

What was the Bureau of Chemistry?

The FDA was created by the 1906 law. True or false?

What does 'adulterated' mean?