An unintended consequence of Upton Sinclair's novel "The Jungle" was that it led to the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act in 1906. Sinclair had intended to expose the harsh working conditions and exploitation of immigrants in the meatpacking industry, but the gruesome descriptions of unsanitary meat packing practices repulsed the public and put pressure on Congress to pass legislation that regulated the industry. The laws were a significant victory for consumers, but they also reaffirmed the authority of the federal government to regulate commerce within the United States. This was an unintended consequence of Sinclair's work, as he was primarily focused on advocating for workers' rights and socialism, rather than federal regulation of industry.
