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Quiz about History of Consumer Protection

History of Consumer Protection Quiz

Books like Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle" and Ralph Nader's "Unsafe at Any Speed" are part of the American consumer protection movement. How familiar are you with the movement's history in the U.S.? Take this quiz and see.

A multiple-choice quiz by JaneGalt. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
JaneGalt

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
88,223

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
675

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The Heyburn Bill, passed in 1906, regulated producers and sellers in the food industry. Once it became law, what was the name given to this act? Hint

The Consumer Liability Act

The Farmers' Protection Act

The Producer Liability Act

The Pure Food and Drug Act

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. In 1872, the U.S. Congress enacted the very first consumer protection law. This law affected which industry? Hint

dairy

mining

railroad

postal

3. The very first pure food laws in the U.S. were enacted on a state level, not federal, in New York, New Jersey, Michigan, and Illinois (not surprisingly, all states with major food processing cities). What was the year? Hint

1703

1881

1628

2002

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. In 1889, the U.S. Congress proposed the first federal pure food bill, and what happened? Hint

The bill was passed.

The bill was filibustered.

The bill was vetoed by President Harrison.

The bill was met with ridicule.

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. In 1890, many state laws required that milk be what? Hint

refrigerated

pasteurized

sold in smaller portions for smaller households

marked with expiration dates

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. In the Spanish-American War, more U.S. troops died from this than from any other cause. What was it? Hint

Battle wounds

Gangrene

Eating contaminated meat

Drinking bad water

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. In 1912, which commonly known and cited (and still routinely prosecuted) code was first adopted? Hint

none of the above

Title IX

the Truth in Advertising Code

the Fair Housing Code

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. In World War II, U.S. troops stationed in Britain were forbidden to consume what local item? Hint

candy

cigarettes

beer

milk

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. In 1965, Ralph Nader released his first book, "Unsafe at Any Speed." This book was a condemnation of and pushed for consumer protection within which industry? Hint

the railroad industry

the automobile industry

the airline industry

the shipping industry

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. As of 2002, the U.S. FDA is currently part of which Cabinet-level department? Hint

Health and Human Services

Labor

Health, Education and Welfare

Agriculture

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The Heyburn Bill, passed in 1906, regulated producers and sellers in the food industry. Once it became law, what was the name given to this act?

Answer: The Pure Food and Drug Act

The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 really only prohibited folks from selling diseased meats, rotting foodstuffs, or dangerously adulterated food products. The Act also required only that when labels of ingredients were used on a product, that the description of those ingredients was truthful. It essentially also established the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

2. In 1872, the U.S. Congress enacted the very first consumer protection law. This law affected which industry?

Answer: postal

The law made it a federal offense to run scams through the mail. Previously, mail scams were rampant and unpunishable, as there was no regulation against it. Seems that junk mail's been with us a very long time.

Answer: 1881

4. In 1889, the U.S. Congress proposed the first federal pure food bill, and what happened?

Answer: The bill was met with ridicule.

Yep, even after a congressional committee had published, seven years earlier, a list of all the Americans who had died from eating food and using medicines that had been adulterated with poisons and other substances. The committee's report said at that time that these incidents "are largely of the nature of fraud upon the consumer" and that such fraud "has become almost universal."

5. In 1890, many state laws required that milk be what?

Answer: pasteurized

Some dairy interests were opposed to pasteurization, and a lot of regular folks called it "unnatural" because the milk was heated well beyond the boiling point (to 125 degrees celsius) in a pressurized container. Pasteur eventually did refine the process to use lower temperatures.

6. In the Spanish-American War, more U.S. troops died from this than from any other cause. What was it?

Answer: Eating contaminated meat

This event was probably the single, most important reason that finally forced the federal government to enact national protection legislation, as there was a public outcry.

7. In 1912, which commonly known and cited (and still routinely prosecuted) code was first adopted?

Answer: the Truth in Advertising Code

The code was adopted by the Associated Advertising Clubs of America.

8. In World War II, U.S. troops stationed in Britain were forbidden to consume what local item?

Answer: milk

British milk was not pasteurized at the time, and many diseases affecting Britons were transmitted through it.

9. In 1965, Ralph Nader released his first book, "Unsafe at Any Speed." This book was a condemnation of and pushed for consumer protection within which industry?

Answer: the automobile industry

Nader was brought to the U.S. Department of Labor in '64 as a consulting attorney, but quit his job after the report he wrote on the auto industry was essentially ignored. Deciding to crusade for consumer protection, he turned that report into the landmark book.

At the time, most cars didn't even have seat belts. Nader cited in the book that by 1965, more than 51,000 Americans were killed each year in or by automobiles, a figure the Department of Commerce had projected for 1975.

10. As of 2002, the U.S. FDA is currently part of which Cabinet-level department?

Answer: Health and Human Services

The Dept. of Health, Education and Welfare (HEW) was abolished in 1980, and became the Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS). The FDA began in 1906 as part of the Dept. of Agriculture, but in 1953 was moved to HEW.

Source: Author JaneGalt

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