European Markets were shutting out American meats because they were found to be tainted. Yuck! Some governments were even threatening to throw out the good meat with the bad meat. What a waste! Furthermore, thanks to Upton Sinclair and "The Jungle", people began to retreat off of American meats. What was the solution?
Congress (again "influenced" by Roosevelt) passed the Meat Inspection Act of 1906, subjecting meat shipping and preparation to federal inspection. While being revolted by certain features of the act, larger packers successfully used this act as an opportunity to drive other smaller competitors out of business.
Another problem was the mislabeling of foods and pharmaceuticals (was that Loratadine or Hydrocodone?). As a companion to the Meat Inspection Act, the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 was passed to solve this problem.
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