What is the primary focus of the Pure Food and Drug Act?

The primary focus of the Pure Food and Drug Act is on the adulteration and misbranding of foods and drugs. This legislation was enacted in 1906 to ensure that the products being sold to consumers were safe and accurately labeled. The act aimed to prevent manufacturers from adding harmful substances or misleading information to their products, thereby protecting public health and ensuring that consumers could trust the integrity of the food and drugs they were purchasing.

Adulteration refers to the contamination or deterioration of a product, while misbranding relates to false or misleading labeling. By addressing these issues, the Pure Food and Drug Act laid the groundwork for more comprehensive regulations and the eventual establishment of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which continues to oversee the safety and efficacy of food and pharmaceutical products today.

Quality control of products, while an important aspect of ensuring safety, is a broader concern that encompasses various regulations beyond just the scope of the Pure Food and Drug Act. Regulation of prescription medications and sales tax on medications represent other regulatory areas that do not directly reflect the core mission of this particular act.