A major effect of Upton Sinclair's *The Jungle* was its impact on food safety regulations in the United States. The novel, published in 1906, exposed the horrific conditions in Chicago's meatpacking industry. It detailed unsanitary practices, adulteration of food products, and the exploitation of workers.
The public outcry in response to the book led to the passage of two landmark pieces of legislation:
* The Meat Inspection Act of 1906: This act established federal inspection of meatpacking plants and mandated sanitary standards for the production of meat products.
* The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906: This act prohibited the manufacture, sale, or transportation of adulterated or mislabeled food and drugs. It also established the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to enforce these regulations.
In addition to its impact on food safety, *The Jungle* also raised awareness of the plight of immigrant workers and contributed to the rise of the Progressive Era reform movement.
However, it's important to note that Sinclair's primary goal in writing the book was to highlight the injustices faced by working-class Americans. He was less concerned with food safety per se and more interested in exposing the exploitative nature of capitalism. Nonetheless, the book's graphic descriptions of the meatpacking industry had a profound effect on public opinion and ultimately led to significant changes in food safety regulations.