18607. Adulteration of pears.    U. S. v. 200 Boxes of Pears.    Default decree
of condemnation, forfeiture, and destruction.     (F. & D. No. 26275. 
I. S. No. 13160.    S. No. 4610.)
Arsenic and lead having been found on the pears in the shipment herein 
described, the Secretary of Agriculture reported the matter to the United States 
attorney for the Southern District of California.
On April 22,1931, the United States attorney filed in the District Court of the 
United States for the district aforesaid a libel praying seizure and condemnation 
of 200 boxes of pears, remaining in the original unbroken packages at Los 
Angeles, Calif., alleging that the article had been shipped by the C. M. Holtzinger 
Fruit Co., from Yakima, Wash., on or about February 18, 1931, and had been 
transported from the State of Washington into the State of California, and 
charging adulteration in violation of the food and drugs act.
It was alleged in the libel that the article was adulterated in that it con- 
tained added poisonous ingredients, namely, lead and arsenic, which might 
have rendered it harmful to health.
On June 3, 1931, no claimant having appeared for the property, judgment 
of condemnation and forfeiture was entered, and it was ordered by the court 
that the product be destroyed by the United States marshal.
ABTHTJB M. HYDE, Secretary x>f Agriculture.