9189. Misbranding of Ritamlne Capsules. IT. S. v. 479 Packages of vitamins Cap- 
sules, and a quantity of printed matter. Default decree of condemnation. 
Product ordered delivered to a public institution. (F. D. C. No. 16043. 
Sample No. 2856-H.)
LIBEL FILED :   April 18, 1945, District of Columbia.
PRODUCT: 144 150-capsule packages, 260 70-capsule packages, and 75 20-cap- 
sule packages of Ritamine Capsules, offered for sale by the Vita Health Food 
Co. at Washington, D. C, together with a number of accompanying leaflets and 
placards entitled "This Box of vitamins," leaflets entitled "American Dietaids 
Company, Inc., Yonkers, N. Y.," and placards entitled "Its Dangerous to diet 
Without Vitamin-Mineral Insurance."
Examination showed that the product consisted of black capsules and brown 
capsules. The black capsules contained various vitamins, including vitamin 
A, vitamin Bi, vitamin B^, vitamin C, and niacinamide. The brown capsules 
contained various mineral salts, including calcium, phosphorus, iodine, and iron 
compounds. The information concerning the vitamin and mineral properties, 
required by the regulations prescribed under Section 403 (j) as necessary in 
order fully to inform purchasers as to the value of the product for special diet- 
ary uses, was printed inconspicuously on the bottle of the carton.
LABEL IN PART : "American Dietary Ritamine * * * Vitamin and Mineral 
Capsules   *   *   *   American Dietaids Company, Inc., Yonkers, N. Y."
NATURE OF CHARGE: Misbranding, Section 403 (a), the following statements and 
design in the leaflet and placard entitled "This Box of Ritamine" were false 
and misleading since the amounts of vitamins and minerals which would be 
supplied by 35 each of the two types of capsules would not exceed that which 
would be supplied by hundreds of pounds of the, various articles commonly 
used for food: (Picture of a box containing two groups of 35 capsules each, 
labeled "Ritamine") "This Box of Ritamine gives you the benefit of All the 
known needed Vitamins and All the essential Minerals found in hundreds of 
pounds of fresh vegetables, fruits, milk and other foods [design of a rural 
scene, including a woman holding a basket of fruits and vegetables]."
Further misbranding, Section 403 (a), the following statements in the placard 
entitled "It's Dangerous to Diet Without Vitamin Mineral Insurance" were 
false and misleading since the amounts of vitamins and minerals which would 
be supplied by 2 capsules of the article would not exceed those which would 
be supplied by pounds of food selected from various articles commonly used as 
food: "2 tiny Ritamine Capsules gives you all of 9 Vitamins and 9 Minerals 
found in Pounds of selected foods without fattening calories or other food 
elements."
Further misbranding, Section 403 (a), certain statements and designs appear- 
ing in the leaflet were misleading since they represented and suggested that 
the article would supply 8 vitamins and 9 minerals of nutritional importance; 
that it is difficult, if not impossible, to obtain sufficient vitamins and minerals 
from a diet of common foods; and that the use of the article would prevent 
or correct the following conditions: Loss of ability to resist infections, par- 
ticularly of the ears, eyes, nose, and sinus; unsatisfactory functioning of 
glands; inability of expectant mothers to nourish the embryonic baby; dry- 
ness and scaliness of the skin and loss of its sensitivity to touch; loss of ability 
to see clearly in a dim light; failure of the muscles of thestomach and intestines 
to function normally; failure to satisfactorily burn the starch and sugar in 
the food one eats and turn them into required body fuel; loss of appetite; in- 
ability of food to oxidize properly in the tissues; tendency of the blood capil- 
laries to become fragile and bleed; pain around the joints; loose and decayed 
teeth; failure of nerve impulses to be properly transmitted to the muscles, 
causing a jumpy nervous system; faulty heart rhythm; failure of the blood to 
clot well; kidney stones, poor bones, and decaying teeth; loss of tissue tone 
and unhealthy condition of the skin; digestive disturbances and a tendency 
toward colitis; cataract, loss of hair, and unhealthy loss of weight; and im- 
perfectly formed and maintained tooth enamel.   The article would not supply
8 vitamins and 9 minerals of nutritional importance; it is not difficult or impos- 
sible to obtain" sufficient vitamins and minerals from a diet of common foods; 
and the use of the article would not prevent or' correct the diseases, abnormali- 
ties, and symptoms stated and implied in the leaflets.
Further misbranding, Section 403 (f), the information required by Section 
403 (j) to appear on the label was not prominently placed thereon with such 
conspicuousness (as compared with other statements on the label) as to render 
it likely to be read by the ordinary individual under customary conditions of 
purchase and use, since the required information appeared inconspicuously on 
the bottom of the cartons.
The article was also alleged to be misbranded under the provisions of the law 
applicable to drugs, as reported in notices of judgment on drugs and devices, 
No. 1684. 
DISPOSITION : August 21,1945. No claimant having appeared, judgment of con- 
demnation was entered and the product was ordered delivered to a public 
institution.