United States v. Lexington Mill & Elevator Co.
United States Supreme Court
232 U.S. 399 (1914)
- Written by Alex Ruskell, JD
Facts
The United States sought to condemn flour that had undergone a whitening process consisting of the addition of poisonous nitrogen peroxide gas. The United States argued that the flour violated the Pure Food and Drug Act because it contained a poisonous substance, and Lexington Mill & Elevator Co. (defendant), the flour manufacturer, argued that the amount of poison in the flour was too low to be harmful. The district court gave the jury an instruction stating that any amount of poison violated the act. The district court ruled in favor of the government, and Lexington appealed to the court of appeals. The court of appeals reversed, finding that a plain reading of the statute’s prohibition against the addition of poisonous substances injurious to health meant that harmless amounts of poison did not violate the act. The government appealed to the United States Supreme Court.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Day, J.)
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