19388. Adulteration and Misbranding of mineral -water. U. S. v. 20 Cases 
of Geneva Mineral Water. Default decree of condemnation, for- 
feiture, and destruction. (F. & D. No. 27627. I. S. No. 45493. S. No. 
5670.)
Examination of samples of Geneva mineral water from the shipment herein 
described showed that the article was contaminated by the presence of colon- 
aerogenes organisms; that it contained but negligible amounts of certain of the 
declared minerals; and that the labeling bore unwarranted therapeutic claims.
On January 6, 1932, the United States attorney for the Northern District of 
Illinois, acting upon a report by the Secretary of Agriculture, filed in 
the District Court of the United States for the district aforesaid a libel 
praying seizure and condemnation of 20 cases of the said Geneva mineral 
water at Chicago, Ill., alleging that the article had been shipped by Geneva 
Mineral Springs, from Geneva, N. Y., on or about November 9, 1931, and had 
been transported from the State of New York into the State of Illinois, and 
charging adulteration and misbranding in violation of the food and drugs act 
as amended.
It was alleged in the libel that the article was adulterated in that it consisted 
in whole or in part of a filthy and putrid animal and vegetable substance, since 
it contained the colon-aerogenes group of organisms.
Misbranding was alleged for the reason that the statements, "Phosphoric 
Acid * * * Lithia * * * Chloride Potassium * * * Iron," were 
false and misleading and deceived and misled the purchaser, since they im- 
plied that the water contained these chemicals in significant quantities, whereas 
it did not. Misbranding was alleged for the further reason that the state- 
ments appearing on the bottle label, "Nature's Remedy. * * * A Regu- 
lator," were statements concerning the curative or therapeutic effects of the 
said water, and were false and fraudulent, since it contained no ingredient 
or combination of ingredients capable of producing such effects.
On February 11, 1932, no claimant having appeared for the property, judg- 
ment of condemnation and forfeiture was entered, and it was ordered by the 
court that the product be destroyed by the United States marshal.
ARTHUR M. HYDE, Secretary of Agriculture.