20870. Adulteration of pears.    U. S. v. 511 Boxes of Pears.    Default decree
of condemnation, forfeiture, and destruction.     (F. & D. no. 29937. 
Sample no. 21309-A.)
This case involved a shipment of pears that were found to bear arsenic and 
lead in amounts that might have rendered them injurious to health.
On February 15, 1933, the United States attorney for the District of New 
Jersey, acting upon a report by the Secretary of Agriculture, filed in the Dis- 
trict Court of the United States a libel praying seizure and condemnation of 511 
boxes of pears at Jersey City, N.J., alleging that the article had been shipped 
by E. S. Small, from Yakima, Wash., on or about February 1,1933, and had been 
transported from the State of Washington into the State of New Jersey, and 
charging adulteration in violation of the Food and Drugs Act. The article was 
labeled in part: " C. C. Woodall Company, Zillah, Washington, * * * Pears 
Messenger   *    *    *   Flemish Beauty."
It was alleged in the libel that the article was adulterated in that it con- 
tained added poisonous or deleterious ingredients, arsenic and lead, which might 
have rendered it harmful to health.
On March 20, 1933, no claimant having appeared for the property, judgment 
of condemnation and forfeiture was entered, and it was ordered by the court 
that the product be destroyed by the United States marshal.
R. G. TUGWEIX, Acting Secretary of Agriculture.