20218. Adulteration and Misbranding of coffee. U.S. -v. 22 Bass, et al., of 
Coffee.    Default decree of forfeiture and destruction.     (F. & D. no.
24169.    I.S. nos. 020456, 020457.    S. no. 2391.)
This action involved the shipment of a quantity of coffee which was found to 
consist largely of coffee chaff.
On October 23, 1929, the United States attorney for the Western District of 
Arkansas, acting upon a report by the Secretary of Agriculture, filed in the 
District Court of the United States for the district aforesaid a libel praying 
seizure and condemnation of 22 bags, each containing 50 pounds, and 47 cases, 
each containing twenty-four 1-pound bags, of coffee, remaining in the original 
unbroken packages at Texarkana, Ark., alleging that the article had been 
shipped in interstate commerce in part on August 29, 1929, and in part on 
September 7, 1929, by the Maury-Cole Co., from Memphis, Tenn., and charging 
adulteration and misbranding in violation of the Food and Drugs Act. A por- 
tion of the article was labeled in part: (Bags) " Steel Cut Ground Maury-Cole 
Co., Inc., * * * Sunrise Brand Roasted Coffee, Memphis, Dallas, Louis- 
ville." The remainder of the said article was labeled in part: (Bags) " Steel 
Cut Ground Tiger Brand * * * Coffee Roasted and Packed by Maury-Cole 
Co."; (seal) "This seal is a guarantee of purity."
It was alleged in the libel that the article was adulterated in that coffee chaff 
had been mixed with the said article.
Misbranding was alleged for the reason that the statements, " Steel cut 
ground coffee," and " This seal is a guarantee of purity " (with respect to a 
portion) were false and misleading and deceived and misled the purchaser. 
Misbranding was alleged for the further reason that the article was offered for 
sale under the distinctive name of another article.
On October 15, 1932, no claimant having appeared for the property, judgment 
of forfeiture was entered and it was ordered by the court that the product be 
destroyed by the United States marshal.
R. G. TUGWEIJ,, Acting Secretary of Agriculture.