14445. Misbranding of flour.     V.  S. v.  Sterling  Mills, Inc.     Plea of grnllty.
Fine, $50.     (F. & D. No. 19706.    I. S. Nos. 3701-v to 3706-v, incl., 16523-v,. 
16525-v.)
On April 19, 1926, the United States attorney for the Western District of 
North Carolina, acting upon a report by the Secretary of Agriculture, filed in 
the District Court of the United States for said district an information against 
the Sterling Mills, Inc., a corporation, Statesville, N. C, alleging shipment by 
said company, in violation of the food and drugs act as amended, in various- 
consignments, on or about August 22 and 26 and September 3, 1924, "respec- 
tively, from the State of North Carolina into the State of South Carolina, 
of quantities of flour which was misbranded. The article was labeled in part: 
" Sterling Mills Inc." and " Famous Self-Rising Flour " or " Sterling Flour." 
The various sized packages were further labeled: "48 Lbs. When Packed'^ 
or " 24 Lbs. When Packed " or " 12 Lbs. When Packed," as the case might be.
Misbranding of the article was alleged in the information for the reason that 
the statements, to wit, " 48 Lbs.," " 24 Lbs." and " 12 Lbs.," borne on the respec- 
tive-sized sacks containing the said article, were false and misleading, in that 
the said statements represented that the sacks contained 48 pounds, 24 pounds, 
or 12 pounds, of flour, as the case might be, and for the further reason that the
article was labeled as aforesaid so as to deceive and mislead the purchaser Into 
the belief that the said sacks contained 48 pounds, 24 pounds, or 12 pounds, of 
flour, as the case might be, whereas the sacks did not contain the amount 
represented on the label but did contain a less amount. Misbranding was 
alleged for the further reason that the article was food in package form and the 
quantity of the contents was not plainly and conspicuously marked on. the out- 
side of the package. 
On April 20, 1926, a plea of guilty to the information was entered on behalf 
of the defendant company, and the court imposed a fine of $50, ? -;,?;
W. M. JABDINE, Secretary of Agriculture.