What does the Pure Food and Drug Act (1906) primarily prohibit?

The primary focus of the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 is to prohibit misbranding and adulteration of food and drugs. This landmark legislation was established to protect consumers from unsafe or inaccurately labeled products. Misbranding refers to the misleading labeling of products, which could include false claims about their effectiveness or failing to provide necessary information regarding the contents. Adulteration refers to the contamination or dilution of products, which compromises their quality and safety. By addressing these issues, the act aimed to ensure that food and drugs were accurately represented and safe for consumption.

The other options do not align with the core objectives of the 1906 Act. Testing of new drugs is not a focus of this legislation; rather, it laid the groundwork for subsequent regulations that would address drug safety and efficacy. Prescription drug sales are governed by different laws that emerged later, significantly with the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938 and subsequent legislation. Over-the-counter product labeling is also subject to specific regulations that evolved over time, but the original scope of the Pure Food and Drug Act concentrated on the broader issues of misbranding and adulteration.