What social problem did Upton novel The Jungle describe?

Upton Sinclair's novel *The Jungle* (1906) exposed the horrifying conditions of the meatpacking industry in Chicago. The novel vividly portrayed the unsanitary practices, exploitation of workers, and adulteration of food products that were rampant in the industry at the time.

Here are some of the specific social problems described in the novel:

* Unsanitary Conditions: The novel describes the unsanitary conditions in which meat was processed, including the presence of rats, cockroaches, and other vermin, as well as the use of diseased and rotten meat.

* Exploitation of Workers: The novel portrays the workers in the meatpacking industry as being exploited and abused. They are forced to work long hours in dangerous and unsanitary conditions for low wages.

* Food Adulteration: The novel reveals how meatpackers adulterated their products with chemicals and other substances to increase profits and mask the quality of the meat.

While Sinclair intended to expose the plight of workers, the public was more outraged by the unsanitary food practices, ultimately leading to the passage of the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906. These laws helped to improve food safety standards and protect consumers from dangerous and adulterated products.