In the mid-19th century, the urban milk supply in the United States was regularly skimmed or diluted with water …, reducing its nutritional value. At the urging of public health experts, cities across the country hired milk inspectors, who … were tasked with collecting and analyzing milk samples with the goal of preventing adulteration and skimming. Using city …

milk supply was regularly skimmed and diluted with water, but consumers could not easily determine its quality because dyes …, caramel, and salt were added. To protect consumers, milk inspectors were tasked with enforcing a well-defined MQS. Using city …-level data for the period 1880-1910, we find that milk inspections reduced mortality from waterborne and foodborne diseases by 8 …