Why did the author of the jungle point out the army beef besides was not fresh canned?

In "The Jungle," Upton Sinclair highlights the poor quality of army beef to expose the unsanitary and unethical practices in the meatpacking industry. By illustrating that even the beef supplied to soldiers was not fresh and often spoiled, Sinclair emphasizes the broader issues of food safety and the exploitation of workers. This critique serves to illustrate the consequences of industrialization and the neglect of consumer health in pursuit of profit. Such vivid depictions aim to provoke public outrage and demand reform in food production standards.