U.S. meat inspection ActIn 1890, President Benjamin Harrison signed the first U.S. law requiring inspection of meat products. The act required the U.S. Department of Agriculture, through the Bureau of Animal Industry, to inspect export shipments of salted pork and bacon, and to inspect imported imported cattle as well as foods and drinks. The President was authorized to act against countries that discriminated American against meat products. The Act was a response to several European nations that had at the time banned imports of American pork over concerns about infecttion with trichinosis. Those nations removed the restrictions the year following passage of the Act. Congress had thus established the beginning of effective national pure food legislation. In 1891, the Act was extended to include inspection of live cattle and beef exports.« |
