The American Meat Institute was founded in Chicago, IL in 1906 just after passage of the Federal Meat Inspection Act, one of the first U.S. laws to set federal food processing standards. Originally called the American Meat Packers Association, the organization devoted much of its efforts in the early years to helping its nearly 300 member companies acclimate to the new federal inspection. Other early issues included fighting Congressional efforts to saddle the meat industry with the cost of its own inspection, pushing for greater meat export opportunities and sponsoring meat nutrition research. |