Which law aimed to ensure the safety of food and drugs available to consumers?

Study for the American History Checkpoint 1877-1945 Test. Engage with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each offering detailed hints and explanations. Prepare effectively for your exam!

The Pure Food and Drug Act is the correct response because it was specifically designed to protect consumers by prohibiting the sale of misbranded or adulterated food and drugs in interstate commerce. Enacted in 1906, this legislation emerged in response to growing public concern about the safety and quality of food and pharmaceuticals, spurred by investigative journalism such as Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle." The Act mandated that food and drug labels accurately represent the contents, thereby improving consumer information and safety. This was a significant step in establishing regulatory oversight for the food and pharmaceutical industries, leading to the eventual creation of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to enforce these standards.

While the Meat Inspection Act, which also aimed at improving food safety, focused specifically on the meatpacking industry, the Pure Food and Drug Act offered broader protections for all food and drug products. The Federal Trade Commission Act primarily addressed unfair competition and deceptive business practices, and the Child Labor Act dealt with the employment of minors, neither of which directly related to food and drug safety.

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