1868
—Old Homestead, New York City’s oldest steakhouse, opens. Its $41 Kobe beef burger won’t appear for more than a century, however.
—Old Homestead, New York City’s oldest steakhouse, opens. Its $41 Kobe beef burger won’t appear for more than a century, however.
1906
—Upton Sinclair publishes The Jungle. Its graphic depiction of the unsanitary conditions in a Chicago meat-packing plant leads to the passage of the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act later that year.
—Upton Sinclair publishes The Jungle. Its graphic depiction of the unsanitary conditions in a Chicago meat-packing plant leads to the passage of the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act later that year.
1921
—Billy Ingram and Walter Anderson open the first White Castle hamburger stand, in Wichita, Kansas.
—Billy Ingram and Walter Anderson open the first White Castle hamburger stand, in Wichita, Kansas.
1932
—The Great Depression replaces beef with cabbage soup and braised hobo-shoe. Consumption hits an all-time low of 32.1 pounds per capita.
—The Great Depression replaces beef with cabbage soup and braised hobo-shoe. Consumption hits an all-time low of 32.1 pounds per capita.
1970
—General Mills debuts Hamburger Helper to help consumers stretch a small amount of ground beef into a family meal.
—General Mills debuts Hamburger Helper to help consumers stretch a small amount of ground beef into a family meal.
1976
—Beef consumption hits 88.8 pounds per capita, its all-time high, thanks to the largest cattle herd in U.S. history hitting slaughter age.
—Beef consumption hits 88.8 pounds per capita, its all-time high, thanks to the largest cattle herd in U.S. history hitting slaughter age.
1984
—Wendy’s “Where’s the beef?” commercial debuts, making 81-year-old Clara Peller a star, until she is fired in 1985 for appearing in another ad saying she found the beef—in a jar of Prego.
—Wendy’s “Where’s the beef?” commercial debuts, making 81-year-old Clara Peller a star, until she is fired in 1985 for appearing in another ad saying she found the beef—in a jar of Prego.
1992
—Dr. Atkins’ New Diet Revolution is published. It will spend four years on the New York Times bestseller list and lead millions to shun carbohydrates in favor of steaks.
—Dr. Atkins’ New Diet Revolution is published. It will spend four years on the New York Times bestseller list and lead millions to shun carbohydrates in favor of steaks.
2001
—New York Times Magazine contributing editor Michael Pollan buys a steer and follows it to the slaughterhouse for an article that condemns the modern feedlot beef industry. It serves as the inspiration for The Omnivore’s Dilemma five years later.
—New York Times Magazine contributing editor Michael Pollan buys a steer and follows it to the slaughterhouse for an article that condemns the modern feedlot beef industry. It serves as the inspiration for The Omnivore’s Dilemma five years later.