Are Al Capone And His Brother Responsible For Expiration Dates On Food And Beverages?
Was the infamous gangster responsible for innovation that became standard practice in food and drink safety?
Gangster Al Capone developed a reputation as one of the most successful and ruthless criminals in the history of the United States. Primarily operating out of Chicago, he amassed a fortune due to a litany of businesses, both legitimate and those that were not — led by bootlegging during Prohibition. His organized crime syndicate made him well known around the country, but was he all bad or did he also make some positive contributions to society? Interestingly, “Scar Face” may be the reason why we have expiration dates on food and beverages when we go to the grocery store today.
Also known as “Public Enemy Number One,” Capone operated a massively profitable enterprise for years during the 1920s and early 1930s. In addition to gambling and prostitution, bootlegging illegal alcohol during Prohibition proved to be a significant revenue stream. He was so adept at staying out of trouble that he wasn’t fully stopped until he was convicted — of tax evasion — in 1931. He spent nearly a decade in prison and then had his final years out of power, battling rapidly diminishing mental capacity due to syphilis…
