Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act

Abstract

Oleomargarine, today also commonly called margarine,¹ has been the subject of one of the most bitterly contentious chapters in food law history. Oleomargarine rankled the dairy industry to cause it to carry its animosity not only into the legislative halls of the United States capitol, but also into every state capitol. There laws were passed to subject the manufacture and sale of oleomargarine to severe labeling requirements and special taxes. The feeling of the dairy industry against the product was engendered by the fact that it was a less costly substitute for butter and a threatening competitor. Legislative support was also gained through arguments that oleomargarine was less wholesome than butter.