Data and Code for "Safeguarding Consumers Through Minimum Quality Standards: Milk Inspections and Urban Mortality in the United States, 1880-1910"

The late 19th century urban milk supply in the United States was regularly skimmed and diluted with (potentially contaminated) water; dyes, caramel, and salt were added to conceal adulteration; boric acid was added to forestall souring. In an effort to protect consumers, most major American cities adopted minimum quality standards (MQSs) for milk and hired inspectors to enforce them. Using newly transcribed data on 35 cities for the period 1880-1910, we find that the hiring of milk inspectors is, after five years, associated with an 11-14 percent reduction in deaths from diarrheal diseases and typhoid; after 10 years, the hiring of milk inspections is associated with a 18-32 percent reduction in deaths from these diseases. Our estimates provide evidence that, when applied directly to a good the quality of which is difficult to ascertain, well-defined MQSs can improve the health of consumers.

19世纪后期，美国城市的牛奶供应通常会被脱脂，并使用（可能受到污染的）水进行稀释；为掩盖掺假行为，供应商还会添加染料、焦糖与食盐，并通过添加硼酸防止牛奶变质。为保护消费者权益，美国多数主要城市相继制定了牛奶最低质量标准（Minimum Quality Standards, MQSs），并聘请检查员对标准执行情况进行监管。本研究利用1880年至1910年间35座城市的新转录数据集开展分析，结果显示：聘请牛奶检查员五年后，腹泻类疾病与伤寒的死亡率可降低11%至14%；十年后，该类疾病死亡率可降低18%至32%。本研究的估算结果证实，针对质量难以甄别商品，清晰明确的最低质量标准能够有效改善消费者健康水平。