14670. Adulteration and misbranding of black pepper.    U.   S.  v.  17 Cases
of   Ground   Black   Pepper.     Decree   of   condemnation,   forfeiture, 
and destruction.     (F. & D. No. 21188.    I. S. No. 8507-x.    S. No. C-5185.)
On July 20, 1926, the United States attorney for the Western District of 
Kentucky, acting upon a report by the Secretary of Agriculture, filed in the 
District Court of the United States for said district a libel praying seizure and 
condemnation of 17 cases of ground black pepper, at Louisville, Ky., alleging 
that the article had been shipped by the Biston Coffee Co., from East St. Louis, 
111., on or about May 14, 1926, and transported from the State of Illinois into 
the State of Kentucky, and charging adulteration and misbranding in viola- 
tion of the food and drugs act. The article was labeled in part: (Can) " Black 
Pepper."
Adulteration of the article was alleged in the libel for the reason that a 
substance, to wit, starch, had been mixed and packed therewith so as to reduce, 
lower or injuriously affect its quality or strength and had been substituted 
wholly or in part for the said article.
It was further alleged in the libel that the article was misbranded, in that 
it was an imitation and was offered for sale under the distinctive name of 
another article, in that it was labeled so as to deceive or mislead the pur- 
chaser, and in that the package containing the said article bore a statement 
regarding the ingredients or substances contained therein which was false and 
misleading.
On October 25, 1926, the claimant, Johnston Bros. Co., Louisville, Ky., having 
consented to the entry of a decree, judgment of condemnation was entered, and 
it was ordered by the court that the product be destroyed by the United States 
marshal.
W. M. JABDINB, Secretary of Agriculture.
r