Which act prohibited the adulteration or misbranding of food and drugs?

The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 was a significant piece of legislation in the United States that directly addressed the issues of adulteration and misbranding in food and pharmaceuticals. Prior to this act, there were few regulations governing the safety and labeling of food and drugs, which allowed many products to be sold that were harmful or misleading in their presentation.

This act established federal standards for the purity and quality of food and drugs, mandating that they be labeled truthfully and not contain harmful substances or contaminants. Furthermore, it aimed to protect consumers from fraudulent practices and ensured that products were safe for public consumption. By creating a legal framework for the regulation of food and drugs, the Pure Food and Drug Act laid the groundwork for the more comprehensive regulations that followed, including the establishment of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Subsequent acts, such as the Kefauver-Harris Amendment, addressed more specific aspects of drug safety and efficacy, while the Prescription Drug Marketing Act and the FDA Modernization Act focused on different regulatory areas. However, the foundational role of the Pure Food and Drug Act in prohibiting the adulteration and misbranding of foods and drugs is what makes it the correct answer to this question.