748. Adulteration and misbranding: of absorbent cotton.    U. S. v. 33,136 Pack
ages of Absorbent Cotton. Consent decree of condemnation. Product
ordered released under bond to be resterilized. (F. D. C. No. 7014. Sample
No. 70420-E.)
On March 12, 1942, the United States attorney for the Northern District of
Georgia filed a libel against the following quantities of absorbent cotton at
Atlanta, Ga.-9,080 ?-ounce packages, 14,576 1-ounce packages, 3,230 2-ounco
packages, 4,050 4-ounce packages, 1,580 8-ounce packages, and 620 1-pound pack-
ages, alleging that the article had been shipped within the period from on or about
November 5, 1941, to on or about February 18, 1942, by Absorbent Cotton Co. of
America from Valley Park, Mo.; and charging that it was adulterated and
misbranded.
It was alleged to be adulterated in that it purported to be and was represented
as a drug the name of which is recognized in the United States Pharmaco-
poeia,, but its quality or purity fell below the standard set forth in the pharma-
copoeia since it was not sterile but was contaminated with viable micro-organisms.
It was alleged to be misbranded in that the following statements on the label
were false and misleading as applied to an article contaminated with living
micro-organisms: "Absorbent Cotton U. S. P. double sterilized * * * The
selected high grade cotton in this package has been double sterilized and when
sealed, is ready for immediate first aid use."
On April 23,1942, the United Drug Co., Boston, Mass., claimant, having admitted
the allegations of the libel, judgment of condemnation was entered and the
product was ordered released under bond conditioned that it be resterilized under
the supervision of the Food and Drug Administration.