What were Meatpacking Conditions like in the Late 1800's/early 1900's?

by Gertruderama

Hi all!

I have a brief understanding that meatpacking jobs during this time period were pretty unsafe and unsanitary, but that's about it. So I'm hoping someone can give me an in-depth look at just how terrible these jobs were, like how little the pay was, what exactly made them terrible jobs, etc. I know that in 1906, Roosevelt made the food safety laws, so I'm looking for the conditions before that happened, so say conditions from around 1886-1905.

Thanks!

Zildjian11

Follow up, how accurate was Upton Sinclaire's The Jungle? I know it has been considered muckraking and its a narrative, but were the descriptions of factory work and slums in the book indicative of what average factory workers might experience? Particularly the predatory realtors/professionals and the quality of store bought goods

The_WacoKid

Upton Sinclair's The Jungle was really the book that exposed the meat processing industry in America, and its publication led to Roosevelt creating the USDA to oversee conditions.