6395. Vitamin tablets. (F.D.C. No. 44751. S. Nos. 7-188/93 R.) QUANTITY: 3 5,000-tablet cartoned btls., 32 1,000-tablet cartoned btls., 3 cases, each containing 48 250-tablet btls., 8 cases, each containing 144 100-tablet cartoned btls., and 3 cases, each containing 144 50-tablet car- toned btls., of Vita-Eaps; 7 1,000-tablet cartoned btls., 45 cases, each con- taining 12 250-tablet cartoned btls., 6 cases, each containing 12 100-tablet btls., and 14 eases, each containing 12 50-tablet cartoned btls., of VitaKaps-M ; 6 5,000-table btls., 6 1,000-tablet btls.. 7 eases, each containing 48 250- tablet btls., 342 cases, each containing 12 100-tablet btls., and 4 cases, each containing 144 50-tablet btls., of Dayalets; 3 1,000-tablet btls., 13 cases, each containing 36 250-tablet btls.. and 136 cases, each containing 12 100- tablet btls., of Dayalets-M; 3 cases, each containing 24 1,000-tablet car- toned btls., 85 cases, each containing 48 100-tablet btls., and 16 cases, each containing 48 30-tablet btls.. of Optilets; and 4 1,000-tablet btls., 20 cases, each containing 48 100-tablet btls., and 12 cases, each containing 48 30- tablet btls., of Optilets-M. at Needham Heights, Mass. SHIPPED: Between 3-5-60 and 5-4-60, from North Chieago, Ill., by Abbott Laboratories. LABEL IN PART: (Btl.) "Vita-Kaps Abbott Multivitamins for all the family A, D, C, and Vitamin B Complex, including Bi2 ("VitaKaps-M Abbott Multi- vitamins and Minerals for all the family. A, D, C and Vitamin B Complex, including B,2 and Minerals," "Dayalets Abbott's Multiple Vitamin Tablets Potent, daily maintenance vitamins 10 important vitamins in each tiny tablet," "Dayalets-M Abbott Vitamin Mineral Tablets 10 Important Vita- mins 9 Important Minerals." "Optilets * * * Therapeutic Formula Multi- vitamins," and "Optilets-M Abbott's Therapeutic Formula Vitamins with Minerals") * * * Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, Illinois." ACCOMPANYING LABELING: Leaflets entitled "Vitamins for Tour Family." LIBELED : 8-3-60, Dist. Mass. CHARGE: 502(a)-the labeling accompanying the articles, when shipped, con- tained statements which represented and suggested that additional quan- tities of vitamins, far in excess of the amount recommended for adequate nutrition, would provide additional benefits to persons in good health; and would assist in returning a sick or injured person, or one convalescing from an operation, to good health: that the body has a greatly increased need for vitamins when the individual is under mental stress, tension, or strain, is physically fatigued, or is suffering from injury, infection, or illness, or is undergoing surgery, and which increased need is an indication for the use of the excess quantities of vitamins offered by the products, which state- ments were false and misleading, since they were contrary to fact; 502(a)-the labeling accompanying the articles, when shipped, contained statements which represented and suggested that the products were offered as a medicine and as a preventive medicine for the treatment and preven- tion of night blindness; beriberi; pellagra ; scurvy; rickets; osteomalacia ; and nutritional macrocytic anemia; and suggested that these diseases are quite likely to occur unless the ordinary diet of the usual person in this country is supplemented by a vitamin or vitamin and mineral supplement, which statements were false and misleading, since the occurrence of such diseases is extremely rare in this country and could occur only with the use of an extremely limited diet over a long period of time; 502(a)-the labeling accompanying the articles, when shipped, contained statements which represented and suggested that pernicious anemia results from a dietary deficiency of vitamin B12, and would be corrected by supple- mentation of the diet with that vitamin, which statements were false and misleading, since lack of intrinsic factor is a result of failure of the function of the body to produee that factor, leading to the disease, pernicious anemia, which disease is not amenable to treatment or correction, nor can the intrin- sic factor be replaced by use of the supplements offered; and 502(a)-the listing, in the accompanying labeling of the articles, of the following symptoms: defects of tooth development; swollen bleeding gums; gingivitis; lip and skin lesions; skin and tongue inflammation; skin hemor- rhages ; seborrheic dermatitis; optical disturbances; gastrointestinal dis- turbances ; vomiting of pregnancy; nerve diseases; dysfunction of the nervous system; convulsions; impaired growth; and muscular weakness as the result of a deficiency of one or more of the vitamins contained in the products; suggested that anyone suffering from one or more of these conditions and symptoms was suffering from a dietary deficiency and could eliminate the symptoms and conditions by adding a vitamin supplement to their diet, which suggestion was false and misleading, since it is contrary to fact in that such conditions and symptoms are rarely due to a dietary deficiency, are more commonly due to other causes not related to a dietary deficiency, and are not amenable to treatment with a vitamin supplement. The articles were alleged also to be misbranded under the provisions of the law applicable to foods as reported in notices of judgment on foods. DISPOSITION : 9-19-60. Default-delivered to a charitable institution.