This document provides a history of food safety regulation in the United States from the early 20th century to the present. It describes key events that shaped policy, including Upton Sinclair's The Jungle exposing unsanitary conditions in the meat industry, leading to the 1906 Pure Food and Drug Act. Outbreaks of foodborne illness continued to impact policy over the decades. The Food Safety Modernization Act of 2010 was a major milestone, though some argued it did not go far enough and was still facing challenges to full implementation.
2. In The Beginning The Pure Food and Drug Act of June 30, 1906 was the United States Federal Law that provided federal inspection of meat products and forbade the manufacture, sale, or transportation of adulterated food products.
3. The Jungle’s Unintended Consequences “Pierces the thickest skull and most leathery heart.”Winston Churchill "I aimed at the public's heart, and by accident I hit it in the stomach.”Upton Sinclair
4. Food Safety By The Numbers The CDC estimates that 48 million foodborne illness cases occur in the United States every year. At least 128,000 Americans are hospitalized, and 3,000 die after eating contaminated food.
5. Northwest Connection 1992 and 1993 Over 600 people sickened in six States Mostly children 50 acute kidney failure 4 deaths
9. Impact On Public Policy "In the case of E. coli O157:H7 and raw ground beef, the only satisfactory public health goal is to eliminate contamination. Michael Taylor FSIS 1994
12. 2006 – Magic Moment? Spinach –205 sickened and 5 deaths Peanut Butter – 746 sickened and 3 years of product recalled House and Senateparty switch
13. Well, Not Quite So Fast 2007 E. coli-poisoned (hamburger) paralyzed dancer – Front Page of New York Times and a Pulitzer Prize 2009 E. coli-poisoned (cookie dough) mother of six – Front Page Washington Post
14. What About Industry? Tomato, errr, Pepper Outbreak PB 2 - $1 Billion in Recall and Economic Losses
15. 2009 – The Magic Moment Consumers and Industry Coming Together
20. Well, Not Quite Yet "I would not identify it as something that will necessarily be zeroed out, but it is quite possible it will be scaled back if it is significant overreach," said Rep. Kingston, who is likely to become chairman of the subcommittee when Republicans assume control of the House in January. "We still have a food supply that's 99.99 percent safe," Rep. Kingston said in an interview. "No one wants anybody to get sick, and we should always strive to make sure food is safe. But the case for a $1.4 billion expenditure isn't there."