Image loading...

Close Image

historical photo of investigator’s notebook
Click Image to Enlarge

A food adulteration investigator's notebook, ca 1890

National Archives, Records of the Bureau of Chemistry

Download a PDF Transcript (requires Adobe Reader)

historical image of candy factory
Click Image to Enlarge

Before the Pure Food and Drugs Act, factory conditions were horrific. This candy factory probably cleaned up its act for inspection in 1908.

National Archives, Records of the Food and Drug Administration

historical image of ketchup bottle
Click Image to Enlarge

Industrial age ketchup was often made from fermented tomato cores and skins, vinegar for flavor, and dyes to make it red.

National Archives, Records of the Food and Drug Administration

historical postcard that reads The Lodger and Chicago Tinned Meat - the lodger has a fit and is supported by the landlady
Click Image to Enlarge

British postcards circulated in South Africa around the time Upton Sinclair published The Jungle.

National Archives, General Records of Department of State

historical image of meat packing plant
Click Image to Enlarge

A meat inspectors photo of workers branding smoked hams, 1910.

National Archives, Records of the Bureau of Animal Industry

historical image of FDA inspectors and delivery truck
Click Image to Enlarge

FDA inspectors seizing crates of contaminated frozen eggs.

National Archives, Records of the Food and Drug Administration

historical product label that reads Pure Food Brand - Extra Fancy Cream Sugar Corn - Guaranteed under the Food and Drugs Act, June 30, 1906. Serial No. 1740 - Seal of Purity - Thomas Roberts & Co. Phila. Pa. Distributors
Click Image to Enlarge

After the 1906 Pure Food and Drugs Act passed, product labels advertised purity.

National Archives, Records of the Patent and Trademark Office

Historical image of tea taster
Click Image to Enlarge

The National Board of Tea Experts met annually to set standards for imported tea from 1897 to 1996.

National Archives, Records of the Food and Drug Administration

mechanical drawing of food preparation machine
Click Image to Enlarge

Clarence Birdseye's 1930 patent for a method of preparing food products.

National Archives, Records of the Patent and Trademark Office