Which legislation prohibited interstate commerce in adulterated or misbranded food, drinks, and drugs?

The Food and Drug Act of 1906 established significant regulations aimed at ensuring food and drug safety by prohibiting the interstate commerce of adulterated or misbranded products. This landmark legislation was enacted as a response to public outcry over unsanitary practices in food production and dishonest labeling of pharmaceuticals. The act authorized the U.S. government to inspect food and drug products and mandated that they be labeled accurately regarding their contents.

By focusing on the regulation of interstate commerce, the 1906 act laid the groundwork for more comprehensive consumer protection laws that would follow in later years, such as the 1938 Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, which expanded upon the earlier act by introducing more stringent testing requirements and enforcing safety standards.

Thus, the correct answer is rooted in the direct historical significance of the Food and Drug Act of 1906 in establishing a federal role in ensuring product integrity and consumer safety, making it pivotal in the evolution of food and drug regulatory practices in the United States.