Ruth Desmond (c. 1906 – September 30, 1988) was an American consumer advocate best known for her work to have the

Food and Drug Administration The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA or US FDA) is a List of United States federal agencies, federal agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Health and Human Services. The FDA is respo ...

increase the amount of peanuts in

peanut butter Peanut butter is a food Paste (food), paste or Spread (food), spread made from Grinding (abrasive cutting), ground, dry roasting, dry-roasted peanuts. It commonly contains additional ingredients that modify the taste or texture, such as salt, ...

. She was known as the "Peanut Butter Grandma". Desmond founded the Federation of Homemakers in 1959 out of her home in

Arlington, Virginia Arlington County, or simply Arlington, is a County (United States), county in the U.S. state of Virginia. The county is located in Northern Virginia on the southwestern bank of the Potomac River directly across from Washington, D.C., the nati ...

. She founded the federation in reaction to the fact that, during the cranberry crisis of that year, cranberry sauce was being sold (and consumed by her family) despite it being contaminated with a carcinogenic pesticide. She pushed government agencies to adopt food safety policies, including regulations on nitrates in baby food, additives in jelly beans, and caffeine in soft drinks. Desmond once sued the

United States Department of Agriculture The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is an executive department of the United States federal government that aims to meet the needs of commercial farming and livestock food production, promotes agricultural trade and producti ...

for allowing hot dog manufacturers to place the words "all beef" and "all meat" on their labels even though they included other ingredients. After the court ruled in her favor, she telephoned the

Justice Department A justice ministry, ministry of justice, or department of justice, is a ministry or other government agency in charge of the administration of justice. The ministry or department is often headed by a minister of justice (minister for justice in a ...

and told them it would be an injustice if they appealed. Desmond died September 30, 1988.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Desmond, Ruth Consumer rights activists 1900s births 1988 deaths People from Arlington County, Virginia Year of birth uncertain