meats page 1

Important Legislation:

  • Meat Inspection Act- 1906

  • Pure Food and Drug Act- 1906

  • Packers and Stockyards Act-  1921

  • Humane Slaughter Act- 1958

  • Wholesome Meat Act- 1967

  • Humane Methods of Slaughter Act- 1978


Meat Inspection Act 

  • enacted on June 30, 1906

  • The Jungle by: Upton Sinclair

  • 4 main impacts:

- antemortem and postmortem inspection of all animals

- Sanitary conditions improved in all processing facilities

- USDA can monitor and inspect all harvesting and processing operations 


Pure Food and Drug Act

  • Enacted the same day as the Meat Inspection Act

  • Federal inspection of all meat products

  • Prohibits the sale, manufacture and transportation of adulterated food products

  • Paved the way for the creation of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)


Packers & Stockyards Act

  • Was enacted on June 15, 1921

  • Gave the Secretary of Agriculture and the USDA authorization to regulate livestock marketing and meat packing monitoring of scales and brands

  • Has been amended five times:

- 1958, 1976, 1987, 2000 and 2002


Humane Slaughter Act

  • Was originally passed in 1958

  • Was required for animals whose meat would be sold to federal agencies

  • Applied to only cattle, horses, mules, sheep and swine

  • Has been amended and the law, now enforced by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), was passed in 1978