Contaminated Ketchup

Title

Contaminated Ketchup

Description

"This 1909 record from the FDA shows a bottle of ketchup that was found to be contaminated. The caption reads “Made from Decomposed Material. Prosecuted July 3, 1909. Fined $50. N.J. 388.” The Notice of Judgement on this product called for the condemnation of 745 cases of this tomato catsup. It was found to contain high levels of yeasts, spores, bacteria, and mold.

The origins of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can be traced to Harvey Washington Wiley and the 1906 Pure Food and Drugs Act. Twenty-five years in the making, this law prohibited the commerce of “adulterated and misbranded food and drugs.” Although not without its flaws, it introduced regulation where none existed before. Prior to its implementation, consumers were exposed to poor sanitary conditions and toxic preservatives, colors and drugs.

Today, the FDA protects the health of the public by “assuring the safety, efficacy and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation.” In addition to educating the public through accurate scientific information, it also works to create innovations in medicine, making them safer, more effective, and more affordable. Tobacco products are also regulated through the FDA, with special emphasis on reducing tobacco use by minors."

Creator

Food and Drug Administration

Date

1909

Source

https://www.docsteach.org/images/activities/18/lg_176_5710028_13389.jpg

Relation

Rights

For Further Exploration Please Visit http://1.usa.gov/SG0eVD

Publisher

National Archives

Contributor

Food and Drug Administration

Format

Medium: Photograph.

Language

English

Type

Record

Identifier

Eating, FDA, Ketchup, Safety

Coverage

United States

Files

https://www.docsteach.org/images/activities/18/lg_176_5710028_13389.jpg

Reference

Food and Drug Administration, Contaminated Ketchup, National Archives, 1909

Cite As

Food and Drug Administration, “Contaminated Ketchup,” Virtual Museum of Public Service, accessed March 29, 2024, https://vmps.omeka.net/items/show/175.