17525. Action to enjoin and restrain the interstate shipment of adulterated 
cheese. U. S. v. Ehrat Cheese Co., Inc., Louis Caravetta, Charles J. 
Caravetta, Amerigo Caravetta, and John J. Caravetta. Decree for in- 
junction granted.    (Inc. No. Ill.)
COMPLAINT FILED : On or about September 11, 1945, Northern District of Illi- 
nois, against the Ehrat Cheese Co., Inc., Chicago, Ill., and Louis Caravetta, 
president, Charles J. Caravetta, also known as Pasquale Caravetta, vice presi- 
dent, Amerigo Caravetta, secretary, and John J. Caravetta, treasurer.
NATURE OF CHARGE: That the defendants had been for several years past, 
and were at the time of filing the complaint, introducing and delivering for 
introduction into interstate commerce adulterated cheese; that the defendant 
corporation owned and operated the Bravo Cheese Factory at Pullman, Mich., 
where it received and processed raw milk into Italian types of cheese and 
at times into American Cheddar cheese; that the cheese was shipped from 
Pullman, Mich., to Chicago, Ill., where it was reshipped in interstate com- 
merce ; that the cheese so manufactured and shipped was adulterated under 
Section 402 (a) (3), in that it consisted in whole or in part of a filthy, 
putrid, or decomposed substance containing insect fragments, whole insects, 
hairs resembling those of rodents, cows, and cats, rodent excreta, mites, lar- 
vae, materials resembling animal feed and manure, metallic fragments, and 
nondescript dirt. The cheese was adulterated further under Section 402 
(a) (4), in that it had been prepared, packed, and held under insanitary 
conditions whereby it had been and was being contaminated with filth, i. e., 
the defendants' plant at Pullman, Mich., was infested with rodents and in- 
sects; the tanks, hose pipes, vats, milk cans, and other equipment used in
the manufacture or processing of the cheese were dirty, insanitary, and 
filthy; and the milk from which the cheese was manufactured contained a 
high concentration of filth.
The complaint alleged further that the defendants, particularly Charles 
J. Caravetta, repeatedly had been advised that the conditions under which 
they were operating were insanitary; that cheese manufactured by them 
was grossly contaminated with filth and should not be introduced into inter- 
state commerce, but that, notwithstanding, cheese manufactured by them had 
been seized and condemned under libels charging violation of Sections 402 
(a) (3) and (4) ; and that on April 16, 1945, the defendant corporation 
pleaded guilty to an information charging the interstate shipment of adul- 
terated cheese and was fined $1,000. The complaint prayed that the court 
grant a preliminary injunction, and that after due proceedings, the prelim- 
inary injunction be made permanent.
DISPOSITION : On September 21, 1945, the defendants having consented to the 
entry of a decree, the court entered an order enjoining and restraining the 
defendants and all persons acting upon their behalf from introducing into 
interstate commerce, either directly or indirectly, cheese adulterated as al- 
leged in the complaint.