14063. Adulteration and misbranding of coffee. U. S. v. 56 Pounds of 
Alleged   Coffee.     Default   order   of   confiscation   and'  destruction.
(F. & D. No. 19832.    I. S. No. 22144-v.    S. No. C-4645.)
On March 2, 1925, the United States attorney for the Eastern District of 
Michigan, acting upon a report by the Secretary of Agriculture, filed in the 
District Court of the United States for said district a libel and on April 11, 
1925, an amended libel praying the seizure and condemnation of 56 pounds of 
alleged coffee, remaining in the original unbroken packages at Detroit, Mich., 
alleging that the article had been shipped by the Private Estate Coffee Co., 
December 24, 1924, in interstate commerce into the State of Michigan, and 
charging adulteration and misbranding in violation of the food and drugs act 
as amended. The article was labeled in part: (Case) "From 'Private Estate* 
Coffee Company, New York." The paper bags containing the article were rub- 
ber stamped on the bottom of the bag, "Coffee & Chicory,", in very small type, 
and " 16 Oz. Net," in somewhat larger type. 
Adulteration of the article was alleged in the libel for the reason that a sub- 
stance, chicory, and an unidentified brown vitreous substance, had been mixed 
and packed therewith so as to reduce, lower, or injuriously affect its quality 
and strength and for the further reason that so-called coffee made from foreign 
substances, to wit, chicory, had been substituted wholly or in part for coffee.
Misbranding was alleged for the reason that the article was an imitation of 
and was offered for sale under the distinctive name of another article, to wit,
coffee, for the further reason that the statement "Coffee," borne on the labeL 
was false and misleading, in that the article contained chicory and an unident- 
fied brown vitreous substance, and for the further reason that it was food in 
package form and the quantity of the contents was not plainly and conspicu- 
ously marked on the outside of the package.
On May 12, 1925, no claimant having appeared for the property, judgment of 
the court was entered, ordering that the product be confiscated and destroyed 
by the United States marshal. 
R. W. DUNLAP, Acting Secretary of Agriculture.