24519. Misbranding of Stardom's Health Diet. U. S. v. 90 Packages of 
Stardom's Healtli Diet. Default decree of condemnation and 
destruction.     (F.  & D.  no.  32687.    Sample no.  65442-A.)
This case involved a product the labeling of which represented that it con- 
tained ingredients effective in the reduction of surplus weight. Examination 
showed that the article consisted of common food substances which in them- 
selves could bring about no weight reduction. The article was also repre- 
sented to contain appreciable amounts of essential vitamins. Tests for vitamin 
D, however, showed little, if any, present. The labeling was further objec- 
tionable because of unwarranted curative and therapeutic claims.
On May 10, 1934, the United States attorney for the Eastern District of 
Michigan, acting upon a report by the Secretary of Agriculture, filed in the 
district court a libel praying seizure and condemnation of 90 packages of 
Stardom's Health Diet at Detroit, Mich., alleging that the article had been 
shipped in interstate commerce on or about October 6, 1933, by the Hollywood 
Diet Corporation, from Chicago, Ill., and charging misbranding in violation of 
the Food and Drugs Act as amended.
Analysis showed that the article consisted essentially of water-soluble mate- 
rial including dextrin (43 percent), protein (13.5 percent), fat including cocoa 
butter (6 percent), plant material, and inorganic constituents including salt 
Biological examination showed that it contained but an inconsequential pro- 
portion, if any, of vitamin D.
The article was alleged to be misbranded in that the following statements 
and designs appearing in the labeling were false and misleading: (Package) 
"Containing vitamins A B C D [Picture of a Woman] Drink a Meal The 
Dawn Of a New Era A beautiful figure need no longer be a matter of birth- 
days. Stardom's Health Diet has taken the drudgery out of weight control 
and made dieting a pleasure. Don't rtek Vitamin Starvation—a danger that 
gives no warning! Stardom's Health Diet not only satisfies your appetite but 
supplies your system with vitamins, A-B-C and D and is rich in proteins 
and minerals, giving it the food value and dietary elements so necessary in 
the maintenance of good health. Surplus fat soon disappears as this slender- 
izing health drink supplies nourishment without the excess Calories. Star- 
dom's Health Diet is easily assimilated and rich in nerve building elements. 
It could well be called the 'Miracle Food.' Beware of weakening and harm- 
ful drug diets for beauty comes from within. Health and a beautiful figure are 
now s3rnonomous and within the reach of all. Directions Add one heaping 
teaspoon of Stardom's Health Diet to a cup of coffee, tea, milk or water. Stir 
well and drink slowly. Substitute a cup of Stardom's Health Diet for break- 
fast, lunch, or both, but eat your customary dinner. You can hasten results by 
going light on fatty meats, starchy foods and pastries. Should you feel the 
pangs of hunger between meals, or before retiring, enjoy another cup of this 
nutritious health drink. If taken before retiring, add a teaspoonful of Star- 
dom's Health Diet to a cup of water or milk, without the fear of spending a rest- 
less night. Sip It—And Sleep. Stardom's Health Diet can be taken as often as 
desired, as it is a Non-Fattening Pure Food Product * * * Rich in Vita- 
mins Reduce With Safety"; (circular) "[Picture of a woman] Secret To 
Slender Loveliness Don't Envy a Beautiful Figure Attain One! You can 
now Safely lose 4 to 7 pounds a week without taking Laxatives, Drugs, Salts, 
Medicinal Herbs Or Exercises Stardom's Hollywood Diet * * * Contains 
vitamins A, B, C, D and E * * * This is to certify that Stardom's Holly- 
wood Diet is a Pure Food Product containing Vitamins A, B, G, D and E, 
along with an abundance of Proteins and Minerals. Stardom's Hollywood Diet 
is so well balanced and contains such complete and superior Proteins, Minerals
and Vitamins, that it can well replace meats, eggs, fish, fowl, butter, cheese, 
bread, etc. It will maintain the necessary reserve of the human body with 
nourishing elements that will not end in Fat. * * * This product should 
prove very valuable as a dietary aid and supplement as it has definite com- 
mendable values as a human food and does not contain fat-producing qualities. 
* * * [picture of a woman standing on scales] The Origin Of Stardoms 
In keen, competitive Hollywood, beauty is fame, and fame is attended with 
its individual problems. Their greatest problem to to retain a beautiful figure 
without sacrificing their vitality and freshness in spite of the strenuous studio 
hours, and the great deprivation of food, in order to retain extreme slendemess 
for the exaggerating caiaera lens. Hollywood turned to modern science to 
solve its problem. After years of research work, science answered with the 
discovery of this Miracle Health Food. Thus the Dawn of a New Era—and 
the birth of Stardom's Hollywood Diet. Reduce The Hollywood Way. The 
entire movie colony refer to Stardom's as 'Filmland's Miracle Food' as it won 
the instant favor of screen stars and celebrities everywhere. It is now avail- 
able for general use and sold by the Hollywood Diet Corporation under the 
registered trade name of Stardom's Health Diet. You do not, however, need 
a screen star's income to take advantage of Hollywood's new amazing discovery, 
for every package contains a generous 30 days' supply and is priced at only 
$2.00. Think of it—30 delicious slenderizing Hollywood lunches at a cost of 
only a few cents a day. You actually save money while banishing your unsight- 
ly, ugly fat the Hollywood way. Beware of Weakening And Harmful Drug 
Diets -Why take Harmful Laxatives that rob your system of the moisture it 
needs, or upset your glandular system with Dangerous Drugs. In controlling 
your weight, it is no longer necessary to impair your health. Stardom's Health 
Diet substituted for breakfast or lunch not only satisfies your appetite but sup- 
plies your system with Vitamins A, B, C, D, and E, along with the Minerals 
and Proteins so necessary in the maintenance of good health. Surplus Fat 
soon disappears as this slenderizing health drink supplies nourishment to your 
body without the excess Calories. That in itself is the secret of its reducing 
effect when taken in place of a Fat-Forming Meal. Directions This wonder- 
ful new discovery enables you to banish your annoying, ugly fat without the 
slightest discomfort. Simply substitute a cup of this delicious slenderizing 
health drink for your breakfast, and for one other fat-forming meal each day, 
but enjoy one adequate meal daily. Your system needs a certain amount of 
bulk and receives it from this one meal. In preparing Stardom's Health Diet, 
add a heaping teaspoonful to a cup of coffee, tea, milk or water, stir well and 
sip slowly. It will not only satisfy those annoying pangs of hunger, but will 
supply your system with the proper nourishment and Vitamin Protection it 
really needs. That is why you can miss one or two fat-forming meals each day 
without sacrificing your vitality and freshness for you will not spend a hungry 
moment. What's more, you will not only look better, but will actually feel 
better than you have for years. Stardom's in itself does not reduce you, for 
it does not contain any laxatives, thyroid extract, salts or drugs of any kind. 
It is a Pure Food Product and is therefore as Safe as the very food served 
daily in your home. The one or two fat-forming meals, that only Stardom's 
make it possible for you to miss, is what enables you to say ' Goodbye' to your 
annoying, unsightly fat. Your own common sense will tell you that this is the 
one, easy, pleasant, but most important of all, absolutely Safe way to control 
your weight. Now, then, do you wonder why men and women by the thou- 
sands are adopting Hollywood's new delightful way of losing 4 to 7 pounds a 
week. Avoid Midnight Lunches Bulky foods eaten before retiring are not 
properly assimilated and are therefore turned into disfiguring ugly fat. It is 
not necessary to retire hungry, however, for hunger lowers your resistance. 
Simply enjoy another drink of Stardom's Health Diet without the fear of 
spending a restless night. If taken before retiring, add a teaspoonful to a 
glass of warm milk or water—sip it—and sleep. Stardom's is a concentrated 
Pure Food Product in powder form and is therefore immediately assimilated 
and converted into energy and not Fat. It satisfies those annoying pangs of 
hunger without overtaxing and causing your glandular system to work over- 
time. Remember, your digestive organs also need a rest if they are to function 
properly. * * * Don't risk Vitamin Starvation—a danger that gives no 
Warning. Form a Habit of supplying your system with a generous amount of 
Vitamins, Proteins and Minerals at the time of the day when your system needs
nourishment. "Drink A Meal? Stardom's Health Diet is easily and quickly 
assimilated and therefore is immediately converted into energy. You will 
receive Extra Dividends from this Added Energy. Be Fit—Not Fat. * * * 
Slender beauty is Now placed within Your reach * * * Stardom's moulds 
your body into slender loveliness. Almost before you realize it, you will find 
your bulgy, flabby lines becoming firm, slender and attractive. * * * Sip 
those extra pounds away."
Misbranding was alleged for the further reason that the following statements, 
appearing in the labeling, were statements regarding the curative and thera- 
peutic effects of the article and were false and fraudulent: (Package) "Health 
Diet A Reducing Aid"; (circular) "Science Scores Again Modern science baa 
at last given an eager waiting world a reducing aid in 'Stardom's Health Diet', 
which has taken the drudgery, torture, but most important of all, danger out 
of weight control, and made dieting a pleasure. A beautiful figure need no 
longer be a matter of birthdays, as this new discovery places radiant health 
and slender loveliness within reach of all. * * * Drink A Daily Meal 
of Stardom's To Health and Beauty Be Fit—Not Fat Being fit is not a 
question of vanity, but a question of good common sense. You would not think 
of carrying a couple of pails of water around with you from early morning 
until late at night. Yet, you will carry 15 to 20 pounds of disfiguring ugly fat 
around allowing it to not only sap your vitality, but actually rob you of your 
physical attractiveness. Surplus Fat not only slows you up, but actually shortens 
your life, and you can readily see why. Surplus Fat overloads and places a 
dangerous strain on your heart, kidneys and liver, causing them to wear out 
before their time. That is why physicians and insurance companies say, 'Your 
waistline is your life line.' Stardom's Health Diet will add years to your 
life—and life to your years. * * * For your appearance and health's sake, 
form the habit of substituting Stardom's Health Diet for your lunch. * * * 
Stardom's Health Diet."
On February 15, 1935, the case having been called and no claimant appearing, 
judgment of condemnation was entered and it was ordered that the product be 
destroyed.
M. L. WILSON, Acting Secretary of Agriculture.