One of the examples I recall learning about ( in Public School, by the way ) was the sales of canned pumpkin misrepresented as peaches..
Sugar beets come to mind as well...
There were other examples, but that one always stuck in my mind..
Oft-times, what you saw was NOT what you got..
Fact is, however, that such violations of the public trust still happen even today.
FOOD LION comes to mind, and something about old and contaminated meats and meat products..
And, just like the turn of the century robber barons, when caught in the act, they simply deny any wrongdoing, contact their (well-paid) congressional representatives, and clean up their act for a while until things die down..
Then, it's back to business as usual..
yes, I remember that pumpkin for peaches thing, but you're one up on me about the beets.