4026. Misbranding of Reeser's Vegetable Liver Pills.   U. S. v. 20,000 Tablets, etc
(F. D. C. No. 33579.    Sample No. 7936-L.)
LIBEL FILED :    September 8, 1952, Western District of Pennsylvania.
ALLEGED SHIPMENT :    On or about March 15, 1950, from Baltimore, Md.
PRODUCT :   Reeser's Vegetable Liver Pills.   20,000 tablets and 3 dozen boxes, each
box containing 20 tablets, and a number of loose labels at New Kensington, Pa.,
in the possession of the Bloom Drug Store.
RESULTS OF INVESTIGATION : The consignee had repacked the tablets into the
boxes from the container in which the tablets were shipped and a number of
labels were caused to be printed by the consignee.
LABEL, IN PART : (Bulk shipment) "Private Formula No. 7295 Powd Ext Bella-
donna Lvs 1/10 Gr (.00124 Grain Alkaloids.) Powd Ext Cascara Sag.
Podophyllin Aloin"; (box) "Reeser's Vegetable Liver Pills * * * Bloom
Drug Store   968 Fourth Avenue   New Kensington, Pa."
NATURE OF CHARGE: Misbranding, Section 502 (a), the statements on the label
of the article "* * * Liver Pills for sick headache, dizziness, biliousness,
sluggish liver, nerve and blood disorders * * * they will exert a wonderful
tonic effect in nervous ailments and blood disorders" were false and misleading
since the article was not an adequate and effective treatment for the diseases,
symptoms, and conditions suggested and implied.
Further misbranding, Section 502 (b) (1), the label of the article failed
to bear the name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer, or distrib-
utor, since the name and address appearing on the label of the repackaged
article, namely, "Bloom Drug Store, New Kensington, Pa.," were not those of
the manufacturer and were not qualified by phraseology that revealed the con-
nection which Bloom Drug Store had with the article; and Section 502 (e)
(2), the article was fabricated from two or more ingredients, and its label
failed to bear the common or usual name of each active ingredient and the
quantity of belladonna alkaloids contained in the article.
Further misbranding, Section 502 (f) (2), the labeling failed to bear ade-
quate warnings against use of the article in those pathological conditions where
its use may be dangerous to health, and against unsafe duration of adminis-
tration, since its labeling failed to bear a warning against use when there is
abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or other symptoms of appendicitis; the label-
ing failed to bear a warning to the effect that frequent or continued use, or use
in accordance with the directions appearing upon the label, namely, "If one is
taken each night or one every other night as indicated," may result in estab-
lishing dependence upon laxatives to move the bowels; and the labeling failed
to bear a warning to the effect that if a skin rash appeared, use of the article
should be discontinued.
The article was misbranded in the above respects while held for sale after
shipment in interstate commerce.
DISPOSITION : November 24, 1952. Default decree of condemnation and destruc-
tion.