The writer Jack London called Sinclair's book "the Uncle Tom's Cabin of wage slavery". Domestic and foreign purchases of American meat fell by half. The novel brought public support for Congressional legislation and government regulation of the industry, including passage of the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act.
The writer Jack London labeled Sinclair's book as "the Uncle Tom's Cabin of wage slavery". This led to a significant drop in American meat sales, both domestically and internationally. The novel prompted public backing for legislation that would govern the industry, resulting in the passage of key laws such as the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act.