4844. Adwltex-ation and misbr&ncling- of pepper.    U. S. v. Tlie C. F. Blanke?
Tea- and  Coffee Co., a corporation.    Plea of guilty.    Fine, $80 and
costs.     (F. & D. No. G202.    I. S. Nos. 12762-k, 14201-k, 15210-k, 15214-k.)
On March 6, 1916, the United States attorney for the Eastern District of Mis??
souri, acting upon a report by the Secretary of Agriculture, filed in the Dis??
trict Court of the United States for said district an information against the?
C. P. Blanke Tea & Coffee Co., a corporation, St. Louis, Mo., alleging shipment?
by said company, in violation of the Food and Drugs Act, on or about March?
4, 1915, from the State of Missouri into the State of Oklahoma, on or about?
March 8, 1915, from the State of Missouri into the State of Mississippi, and?
on or about March 11, 1915, and May 1, 1915, from the State of Missouri into?
the State of Illinois, of four different consignments of pepper which, in each?
shipment, was adulterated and misbranded.
The article shipped March 4, 1915, and March 8, 1915, was labeled: (On?
package) " Blanke's Strictly Pure Spices Black Pepper 1| Ounces Net Weight?
C. F. Blanke Tea & Coffee Co. Blanke's Strictly Pure Spices The Spice in?
this package is ground of well selected stock and is guaranteed to be strictly?
pure by C. F. Blanke Tea & Coffee Co. St. Louis."
Analysis of samples of this article by the Bureau of Chemistry of this de??
partment showed, respectively, the following results:
Shipment 1.
Total ash (per cent)?
10.52
Acid insoluble ash (chiefly sand and clay)   (per cent)?    5.20
Shipment 2.
Total ash (percent)?
   9.17
Acid insoluble ash (chiefly sand and clay)  (per cent)?   4.27
These  results  show  that  the  pepper  contained   an  excessive?
amount of sand and clay.
The article shipped March 11, 1915, and May 1, 1915, was labeled: (On?
carton) " 1J Ounces net Weight Blanke's Exposition Brand High Grade Black?
Pepper Pure Ground C. F. Blanke Tea & Coffee Co. St. Louis, Mo. The Spice?
in this Package is carefully ground of the very best high grade spice, carefully?
selected for their pungency and flavor. They are the height of excellency and?
can not be improved upon Strictly Pure and Wholesome. H Ounces Net?
Weight. Blanke's Exposition Brand High Grade Black Pepper Pure Ground?
C. F. Blanke Tea & Coffee Co. St. Louis, Mo. After once Trying a Package?
of this Spice you will readily see the difference between this Spice and the?
ordinary spices usually handled as pure goods.?We give no prizes or schemes?
with this Spice, but give full value for your money in Pure Unadulterated?
Wholesome Spice. Insist on getting Blankes Exposition Brand High Grade?
Spices They are the best Blankes Exposition Brand High Grade Spices are?
the very best."
Analysis of samples from these shipments, by said Bureau of Chemistry,?
showed the following results:
Shipment 1.
Total ash (per cent)?
8.27
Acid insoluble ash (chiefly sand and clay)   (per cent)?
3.24
1220??17?6
456	
BUREAU  OP   CHEMISTRY.	
[Supplement 2T.
Shipment 2.
Total ash (per cent)?
9.37
Acid insoluble ash (chiefly sand and clay)   (per cent)-.?4.29
These   results   show   that   the   pepper   contained   an   excessive?
amount of sand and cl^y.
Adulteration of the article in all four shipments was alleged in the informa??
tion for the reason that certain substances, to wit, sand and clay, had been?
mixed and packed with the article so as to reduce, lower, and injuriously affect?
its quality and strength.
Misbranding of the article in the first two shipments was alleged for the?
reason that the following statements regarding it, and the ingredients and?
substances contained therein, appearing on the label aforesaid, to wit, " Strictly?
Pure Spices," "The spice in this package is ground of well-selected stock and?
is guaranteed to be strictly pure," and " Black Pepper," were false and mislead??
ing, in that they indicated to purchasers thereof that the article was strictly?
pure black pepper, and for the further reason that the article was labeled as?
aforesaid so as to deceive and mislead purchasers into the belief that it was?
strictly pure black pepper, when, in truth and in fact, it was not, but was, to?
wit, black pepper containing excessive amounts of sand and clay.
Misbranding of the article in the last two shipments was alleged for the?
reason that the following statements regarding it and the ingredients and?
substances contained therein, appearing on the label aforesaid, to wit, " High?
Grade Black Pepper " and " The Spice in this package is carefully ground of?
the very best high grade spice, carefully selected for their pungency and flavor.?
They are the height of excellency and can not be improved upon. Strictly?
Pure and Wholesome," were false and misleading, in that they indicated to?
purchasers thereof that the article was strictly pure black pepper, and for the?
further reason that the article was labeled as aforesaid so as to deceive and?
mislead purchasers into the belief that it was strictly pure black pepper, when,?
in truth and in fact, it was not, but was, to wit, black pepper containing exces??
sive amounts of sand and clay.
On May 4, 1916, the defendant company entered a plea of guilty to the?
information, and the corart imposed a fine of $80 and costs.
GAEL VEOOMAN,?
Acting Secretary of Agriculture.
K J. 4801-4850.1   SERVICE  AND  REGULATORY ANNOUNCEMENTS.	457