27243. Adulteration and misbranding of absorbent cotton.    IT. S. v. 37 Pounds
of Absorbent Cotton.    Default decree of condemnation and destruction.
(F. & D. no. 39080.    Sample no. 16973-C.)
This product was represented on the label as having been sterilized, when it 
was not sterile but was contaminated with viable micro-organisms.
On or about February 15, 1937, the United States attorney for the District 
of New Jersey, acting upon a report by the Secretary of Agriculture, filed in 
the district court a libel praying seizure and condemnation of 37 pounds of 
absorbent cotton, in 1-ounce and 2-ounce packages, at Newark, N. J., alleging 
that it had been shipped in interstate commerce on or about December 24, 1936, 
by the Deane Plaster Co., from Yonkers, N. Y., and that it was adulterated 
and misbranded in violation of the Food and Drugs Act.
The article was alleged to be adulterated in that its purity fell below the 
professed standard and quality under which it was sold, namely, "Absorbent 
Cotton Sterilized", in that it was not sterile but was contaminated with viable 
micro-organisms including gas-producing organisms.
It was alleged to be misbranded in that the statement on the label, "Ster- 
ilized", was false and misleading when applied to an article that was not 
sterile but was contaminated with viable organisms including gas-producing 
organisms.
On March 19, 1937, no claimant having appeared, judgment of condemnation 
was entered and it was ordered that the product be destroyed.
H. A. WALLACE, Secretary of Agriculture.