Roosevelt and the FDA
There’s a long history to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It dates back to 1848 under Zachery Taylor with the Drug Importation Act that prevented tainted drugs from entering the country.
The FDA took shape under the leadership of Harvey Washington Wiley. Wiley is known as the “Father of the Pure Food and Drug Act.” Bills introduced to congress from 1880 to the 1890s were all the result of Wiley's efforts.
He established the Poison Squad that was a group of young men who became guinea pigs testing how chemicals and adulterated food effected their health. Women banded together to create Federated Women's Clubs to help add their own political clout to the movement. Soon major canning companies were supporting Wiley’s campaign and voluntarily abandoned the use of questionable chemicals. During the Spanish American War, the Rough Riders were eating embalmed meat.
Finally, Wiley won the battle when on June 30, 1906, TR signed the Pure Food and Drugs Act into law. The Act was largely written by Wiley and was known as the Wiley Act. He was appointed to oversee its administration. The passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act is considered a hallmark of the Progressive Era
The bureau pushed for greater oversight. Ruth De Forest Lamb, the bureau’s chief educational officer, created the American Chamber of Horrors. It turned into a social media push that highlighted the dangers of products like “Lash Lure” made using a dangerous eyelash dye. The chemical caused blistering, ulcers and in some cases blindness.
