17499. Misbranding of flour.    TJ. S. v. 460 Sacks of Flour.    Decree of con 
demnation, forfeiture, and sale entered, with, provision for re- 
lease under bond.    (F. & D. No. 24591.    I. S. No. 026996.    S. No. 2944.)
Sample sacks of flour from the following described interstate shipment having 
been found to contain less than the amount labeled on the sack, the Secretary 
of Agriculture reported the facts to the United States attorney for the Western 
District of Louisiana-
On March 6, 1930, the United States attorney filed in the District Court of 
the United States for said district a libel praying seizure and condemnation
of 460 sacks of flour, remaining in the original unbroken packages at Lake 
Arthur, La., alleging that the article had been shipped by the American Maid 
Flour Mills, Houston, Tex., on or about February 8 (February 20), 1930, and 
had been transported from the State of Texas into the State of Louisiana, and 
charging misbranding in violation of the food and drugs act as amended. The 
article was labeled in part: "American Maid Flour * * * American Maid 
Flour Mills Bleached 24 Pounds."
It was alleged in the libel that the article was misbranded in that the state- 
ment " 24 Pounds " was false and misleading and deceived and misled the pur- 
chaser, since the packages contained less than the weight indicated thereon. 
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 con- 
spicuously marked on the outside of the package, since the statement made 
on the said package as to the weight of the contents was incorrect.
On April 21,1930, no answer or claim having been filed, the case came on for 
final disposition. Judgment of condemnation and forfeiture was entered, and 
it was ordered by the court that the product be sold. The decree provided, 
however, that the product might be released to the shipper, the American Maid 
Flour Mills, Houston, Tex., or the consignee, J. C. Mack, Lake Arthur, La., 
upon payment of costs and the execution of a bond in the sum of $1,000, con- 
ditioned in part that it be repacked, under the supervision of this department, 
in compliance with the requirements of the Federal food and drugs act.
ARTHUR M. HTDB, Secretary of Agriculture.