1917 - Consumer Protection

Consumer Protection

Pennsylvania-born University of Wisconsin bacteriologist Alice Evans, 36, begins work that will show the ability of the bacterium that causes contagious abortion (Bang's disease) in cattle to be passed to human beings, notably via raw milk, and produce undulant fever or brucellosis (see Bang, 1896; medicine [Bruce], 1887). The dairy industry and medical profession will oppose Evans, but compulsory pasteurization of U.S. milk in the late 1920s will be achieved largely through her efforts in the next 9 years (see dairy practices, 1921).