Curious Minnesota
Curious Minnesota
Minnesota Star Tribune
Why did Minnesota once require margarine to be dyed pink?
20 minutes Posted Aug 24, 2023 at 10:00 am.
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The introduction of margarine in the United States in the late 1800s was very controversial in butter-producing states like Minnesota. Prompted by fears that margarine would undercut butter in the marketplace, lawmakers in Minnesota and elsewhere imposed taxes and regulations to tamp down margarine's success -- including a requirement that it be dyed pink. Reporter Brooks Johnson joins host Eric Roper to discuss this surprising tale from Minnesota history.

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Why did Minnesota once require margarine to be dyed pink? (June 2023 Curious Minnesota story)