Collections Corner: Margarine dye

Margarine dye in the collection of the Shoreline Historical Museum

Collection Spotlight! - Shoreline Historical Museum

It wouldn't be a curator's corner without the constant new findings we have in our collections. Did you know that once upon a time a certain food item was banned in the late 19th-early 20th century?? It was Margarine!

A cartoon reflecting how much the dairy industry hated margarine
From the collection of the Shoreline Historical Museum

This cheaper alternative to butter was detested by the dairy industry, which led to the passing of the Federal Margarine Act of 1886. 

This taxed margarine and required manufacturer licenses. Vermont, South Dakota, and New Hampshire went even further, passed laws which required margarine to be dyed bright pink! 

The Supreme Court later overturned these "pink laws" as unconstitutional, but to many at the time the "unappetizing appeal" lingered. 

We have a packet of margarine pink dye in our collection! Think about that next time you use food coloring in your cupcakes.

The Shoreline Historical Museum is located at 18501 Linden Ave N, Shoreline, WA 98133 just one block east of Aurora on 185th.