Exploring food, agricultural, and environmental law and policy reforms

摘要

Books have played an important role in shaping the United States' food, agricultural, and environmental systems. One of the most influentialis a1906 book entitled The Jungle written by Upton Sinclair that used investigative reporting to descriptively portray the working and living conditions endured by immigrants working in American meatpacking factories. Sinclair horrified readers and stimulated public outrage that led to political pressure to enact the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act, as well as establish the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Another influential book, Silent Spring (1962) by Rachel Carson, led to stronger pesticide regulations and launched the environmental movement. More recent examples include Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal by Eric Schlosser (2001) and a series of writings by Michael Pollen (e.g., The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World (2001) and The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals (2006)).