21243. Misbranding of mineral oil.    TJ. S. v. 45 Bottles of Russian Mineral
Oil.    Default decree of condemnation, forfeiture, and destruction.
(F. & D. no. 29905.    Sample no. 35907-A.)
This case involved a shipment of a product represented to be high grade 
Russian mineral oil, which in fact consisted of a low-grade mineral oil contain- 
ing a considerable amount of carbonizable substances.
On March 31, 1933, the United States attorney for the Western District of 
Michigan, acting upon a report by the Secretary of Agriculture, filed in the dis- 
trict court a libel praying seizure and condemnation of 45 bottles of Russian min- 
eral oil at Grand Rapids, Mich., alleging that the article had been shipped in
interstate commerce, on or about February 22, 1933, by the Mills Sales Co., 
from Chicago, Ill., and charging misbranding in violation of the Food and 
Drugs Act.   The article was labeled in part: "Imported Russian Mineral Oil."
It was alleged in the libel that the article was misbranded in that the name 
" Mineral Oil" was false and misleading, since it was intended to create the 
impression that the article was liquid petrolatum as defined and described in the 
United States Pharmacopoeia, whereas it was not. Misbranding was alleged for 
the further reason that the statements, " This Russian Mineral Oil * * * is 
of the best grade" and "This mineral oil is guaranteed to meet the highest 
standard of Medicinal Products ", were false and misleading, since the article 
was not of the best grade, and did not meet the highest standard of medicinal 
products.
On July 6, 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.
M. L. WILSON, Acting Secretary of Agriculture.