3736. Action to enjoin and restrain the interstate shipment of misbranded min
eral tablets, B complex vitamins with iron tablets, and Mo Tee Na
tablets. U. S. v. Nature's Mineral Food Co., Perry B. Smith, and Thorn-
ton B. Smith.   Permanent injunction granted.    (Inj. No. 234.)
COMPLAINT FILED : October 19, 1951, Southern District of Indiana, against the
Nature's Mineral Food Co., a partnership, Indianapolis, Ind., and Perry B.
Smith and Thornton B. Smith, partners in the partnership, alleging that the
defendants had been introducing and delivering, and were continuing to intro-
duce and deliver, for introduction into interstate commerce, mineral tablets,
B complex vitamins with iron tablets, and Mo Tee Na tablets which were
misbranded.
?See also Nos. 3722, 3735.
LABEL, IN PAET: "The M. F. Co.'s Minerals 2J0Tablets * * * Contains::
Potassium Iodide, Calcium Phosphate,, Calcium Carbonate, Sodium Phosphate,.
Iron Sulfate Exsiccated, Sodium Chloride (Iodized salt)"; "55 B Complex
Vitamins With Iron * * * Contains Vitamin Bv 1 mg. (thiamin chloride)
Vitamin B2, 0.5 mg. (riboflavin) Niacin, 5 mg. Sodium Iron Pyrophosphate,
0.4 gr. Yeast plus inert compounding ingredients"; and "Mo Tee Na * * *
Net contents 100 Tablets * * * Active Ingredients: Calcium Succinate
and Aspirin."
NATURE OF CHARGE : Mineral tablets and B complex vitamins mth iron tablets.
Misbranding, Section 502 (a), certain statements in the accompanying labeling
of the articles, namely, in leaflets entitled "The M. F. Co.'s Vitamin B Complex"
and "Mineral Supplement"; mimeographed sheets entitled "Nature's Minerals
Vitamins," "Cochrane on the Ball," "Important," and "Dr. William Brady
Says" ; a mimeographed letter addressed "Good Morning Dear Friend"; and a
card entitled "Supplement Your Mineral and Vitamin Diet," were false and
misleading.
The statements represented and suggested that the articles would supply a
universal need, and that they would be effective in reducing illness and increas-
ing efficiency; in treating lack of resistance, loss of weight, congestion of blood,
and weakness of muscles; in effecting normal nerve functioning, lactation, and
reproduction and digestive actions; in preventing weakness of the legs, flabbi-
ness of the heart muscles, and lowering of the body temperature; in maintaining
health and strength; in fortifying the body against inroads of sickness; in
antagonizing the aging process; in preventing a run-down condition; in cor-
recting unnatural basic disorders that cause illness or disease regardless of
their names; in making over physical wrecks, causing them to be happy, strong,
free from stubborn suffering, pain and soreness of long duration, and able to
sleep; in preventing the return of agonizing pain; in treating nervousness,
stomach seeming to be tied up in a knot, insomnia, inability to work, and
irritability ; in treating patients helpless with rheumatism, suffering with indi-
gestion and stomach trouble, or run-down generally; and in treating chronic
rheumatism, hay fever, hives, sick headache, "nervous" headache, allergy,
crumbling teeth, excessive tooth decay, recurring or chronic spinal curvature,
growing pains, adult tetany (cramps in legs or arms at night), recurring chil-
blains, and watery "drip-drip" from the nose, with fits of sneezing which many
Yankee wiseacres ascribe to imaginary sinusitis and which they think sounds
better than "catarrh." The articles would not be effective for such purposes
and conditions, and would not fulfill the promises of benefit stated and implied.
Mo Tee Na tablets. Misbranding, Section 502 (a), certain statements in the
accompanying labeling of the article, namely, on the card entitled "Supple-
ment Your Mineral and Vitamin Diet," were false and misleading. The state-
ments represented and suggested that the article was adequate and effective
in the cure, mitigation, and treatment of aches and pains of all types, misery,
arthritis, and neuritis, and that it would enable one to enjoy life in the daytime
and sleep well at night. The article was not adequate and effective in the cure,
mitigation, and treatment of the conditions stated and implied.
The mineral tablets and the B complex vitamins tcdth iron tablets were
alleged also to be niisbranded under the provisions of the law applicable to
foods, as reported in notices of judgment on foods.
DISPOSITION: November 21, 1951. The defendants having consented to the
entry of a decree, the court issued a permanent injunction, perpetually enjoin-
ing the defendants from the acts complained of.