10193. Adulteration and misbranding of vitamin products.   U. S. v. 67 Bottles of
Vita-Pels Pellets, etc.   Default decree of condemnation and destruction.
(F. D. C. No. 16699.   Sample Nos. 26495-H to 26500-H, incl.)
LIBEL FILED :   July 20, 1945, District of Colorado.
of Pro-B-Ron Capsules, 8 bottles of vitamin E capsules, 29 bottles of Nervron 
Tablets, and 19 bottles of Vita-Slim Capsules at Denver, Colo., together with 
accompanying labeling consisting of 300 circulars entitled "Spring 1945," 800 
circulars entitled "Summer 1945," 49 circulars entitled "Do You Want to 
Reduce Your Figure with the Vita-Slim Plan," 2 placards entitled "Vita-Pels" 
and "Vita-Slim," and a number of circulars enclosed with the Vita-Slim Cap- 
sules entitled "The Improved! Vita-Slim Plan to Help You Reduce Weight."
Examination showed that the Bevron Tablets were 43 percent deficient in 
niacin. 
LABEL IN PART : "Pellets Vita-Pels Improved Vitamins and Minerals, 9 Vita- 
mins In Each Red Pellet, 12 Minerals In Each Black Pellet"; "Tablets Bev-- 
ron B Complex Vitamins with Liver and Iron. Each Tablet Contains * * * 
Niacin 20 mgms."; "Capsules Pro-B-Ron Liver and Iron with B Complex" ; 
"Capsules Vitamin E Each capsule contains approximately six times as much 
Vitamin E as the equivalent amount of wheat germ oil"; "Nervron Tablets 
Each Tablet Contains Vitamin Bi 15 milligrams"; "Improved Vita-Slim Cap- 
sules Vitamin Dietary Supplement Ingredients: Vita-Slim contains 10 essen- 
tial Amino Acids from Soya Hydrolysates, plus B Complex factors." 
NATURE OF CHARGE: Vita-Pels Pellets. Misbranding, Section 403 (j), the article 
purported to be and was represented as a food for special dietary uses by 
reason of its vitamin and mineral content, and its label failed to bear, as re- 
quired by the regulations, a statement of the proportion of the minimum daily 
requirements of calcium, phosphorus, iron, and iodine, and the amounts of 
magnesium, copper, cobalt, manganese, zinc, sodium, potassium, and sulfur 
furnished by a specified quantity of the product when consumed during a period 
of 1 day, and the need for cobalt and manganese not having been established, 
its label failed to bear, as required by the regulations, a statement to that 
effect.
Bevron Tablets. Adulteration, Section 402 (b) (1), a valuable constituent, 
niacin, had been in whole or in part omitted from the article.
Pro-B-Ron Capsules. Misbranding, Section 403 (j), the article purported to 
be and was represented as a food for special dietary purposes by reason of its 
vitamin and mineral content, and its label failed to bear, as required by the 
regulations, a statement of the proportion of the minimum daily requirement 
of iron furnished by a specified quantity of the article during a period of 1 day.
Vitamin E Capsule.% Misbranding, Section 403 (j), the artiele purported 
to be and was represented as a food for special dietary uses by reason of its 
vitamin E content, and its label failed to bear, as required by the regulations, 
a statement of the amount of vitamin E furnished by a specified quantity of 
the article during a period of 1 day; and the need for vitamin E in human 
nutrition not having been established, its label failed to bear, as required by 
the regulations, a statement to that effect.
Nervron Tablets. Misbranding, Section 403 (j), the article purported to 
be and was represented as a food for special dietary uses by reason of its 
vitamin Bi content, and its label failed to bear, as required by the regulations, 
a statement of the proportion of the minimum daily requirement of vitamin 
Bx furnished by a specified quantity of the product when consumed during 
a period of 1 day.
Vita-Slim Capsules. Misbranding, Section 403 (a), certain statements and 
the design of a slender woman, appearing in the labeling of the article, were 
false and misleading since they created the impression that use of the article 
would be effective to cause loss of body weight, quickly, safely, and easily, 
whereas the article would not be effective for such purpose.
The articles, with the exception of the Vita-Slim Capsules, were also alleged 
to be misbranded under the provisions of the law applicable to drugs, as 
reported in notices of judgment on drugs and devices. 
DISPOSITION : September 27, 1945. No claimant having appeared, judgment of 
condemnation was entered and the products, together with the printed matter, 
were ordered destroyed.