On Feb. 27, 1906, Upton Sinclair’s book The Jungle was published. The book gave graphic descriptions of the deplorable conditions in the meat-packing industry and was a leading force behind both a meat inspection law and a comprehensive food and drug law.

Since 1879, nearly 100 bills had been introduced in Congress to regulate food and drugs, and on Jun., 30 1906, President Roosevelt signed the Pure Food and Drugs Act, known simply as the Wiley Act.

Harvey Wiley was Chief Chemist of the Bureau of Chemistry in the Department of Agriculture and was a driving force behind the law and headed its enforcement in the early years, providing basic elements of protection that consumers had never known before that time.