19751. Adulteration of canned  sweetpotatoes.    U.  S. v.  254 Cases, et al.,
of Canned Sweetpotatoes.    Default decrees of destruction entered.
(F. & D.  Nos.  27822, 27894, 27898,  27952.    I.  S. Nos. 47060, 47504, 47521, 
50877, 52115, 52116.    S. Nos. 5931, 5941, 5943, 6009.)
Samples of canned sweetpotatoes from the shipments involved in these actions 
having been found to be partly decomposed, the Secretary of Agriculture re- 
ported the matter to the various United States attorneys in whose districts the 
product was located.
Between the dates of March 9, 1932 and March 26, 1932, the United States 
attorneys for the District of Minnesota, the District of Nebraska, and the 
Northern District of Illinois, filed in the United States District Courts for their 
respective districts libels praying seizure and condemnation of 606 cases of the 
said canned sweetpotatoes in various lots at St. Paul, Minn., Omaha, Nebr., 
and Chicago, Ill., respectively. It was alleged in the libels that the article 
had been shipped in part by John W. Taylor and in part by the John W. Taylor 
Packing Co. from Hallwood, Va., between the dates of September 8, 1931 and 
November 12, 1931, that it had been transported from the State of Virginia 
into the States of Minnesota, Nebraska, and Illinois, respectively, and that it 
was adulterated in violation of the food and drugs act. The article was labeled 
in part, variously: (Cans) "N. J. C. Pure Food Brand Sweet Potatoes;" 
"Yellowstone Brand Sweet Potatoes;" "Barco Brand Sweet Potatoes;" or 
" Sunny Brand Sweet Potatoes."
It was alleged in the libels that the article was adulterated in that it con- 
sisted in part of a decomposed vegetable substance.
On April 20, April 22, and April 29, 1932, no claimant having appeared in 
the cases, judgments were entered in the various district courts ordering that 
the product be destroyed by the United States marshals.
HENRY A. WAIXACE, Secretary of Affriculture.