During the early 1900s,
Chicago’s growth was fueled by its unsanitary, but thriving, meat-packing
industry, which exported tainted meat to most of the nation. After an
inspection of a Chicago meat-packing facility, President Theodore Roosevelt’s
fears of contaminated meat and poor working conditions were confirmed. He
submitted the information to U.S. Congress which led to legislation that gave
Americans the right to clean meat, and provided more sanitary working
conditions in packinghouses.
CHICAGO |