1924. Adulteration and misbranding of absorbent cotton.    U.  S. v. American
White Cross Laboratories.    Plea of guilty.    Fine, $1,200.     (F. D. C. No.
16580.   Sample Nos. 87521-F, 18930-H.)
INFORMATION FILED: February 18, 1946, Eastern District of Missouri, against
the American White Cross Laboratories, a corporation, Cape Girardeau, Mo.
ALLEGED SHIPMENT : On or about October 30, 1943, and January 12, 1945, from
the State of Missouri into the State of Minnesota.
LABEL, IN PART:    "Green Cross Surgical Cotton U. S. P.   *    *   *   Distributed
By Butler Brothers   Chicago, 111.," or "U. S. P. ' Physicians And ? Surgeons
' Absorbent Cotton   *   *   *   Distributed By Valentine Laboratories, Inc.   Chi-
cago, Illinois."
NATURE OF CHARGE: Adulteration, Section 501 (b), the quality and purity of
the article fell below the standard for absorbent cotton set forth in the United
States Pharmacopoeia since it did not conform to the requirements of the test
for sterility of solids set forth in the Pharmacopoeia but was contaminated
with viable micro-organisms; and its difference in quality and purity from the
official standard was not plainly stated, or stated at all, on its label.
Misbranding, Section 502 (a), the following label statements were false and
misleading since they represented and suggested that the article was sterile,
whereas it was contaminated with viable micro-organisms: "Absorbent Cot-
ton U. S. P.," "Sterilized Before & After Packaging * * * Sterility Guar-
anteed Only if Package has not been Previously Opened or Damaged," or
"U. S. P. Physicians and Surgeons Absorbent Cotton Sterilized after Packag-
ing * * * Surgical Quality Hospital Quality * * * Manufactured and
Packed under   *   *   *   sanitary conditions.   Sterilized after packaging."
DISPOSITION: April 16, 1946. A plea of guilty having been entered, the court
imposed a fine of $300 on each of the 4 counts of the information.