Commonwealth v. Fulton

70 Pa. Super. 95 | Pa. Super. Ct. | 1918

Opinion by

Henderson, J.,

The defendant was indicted for a violation of the Act of May 13, 1909, P. L. 520, in selling an article of food and an article used for, and entering into the composition of, and intended for use as, an ingredient in the preparation of food, described as “Mrs. Place’s Canning Compound,” which was adulterated in that it contained a proportion of Boric Acid. A verdict of guilty was returned by the jury and afterward judgment was arrested by the court and from that order the Commonwealth appeals. The title of the act is in part: “An act relating to food; defining food, providing for the protection of the public health, and the prevention of fraud and deception, by prohibiting the manufacture or sale, the offering for sale or the having in possession with intent to sell, of adulterated, misbranded, or deleterious foods.” The second section contains a definition of the word “food” as follows: “The term ‘food’ as used in this act shall include not only every article used as food by . man but also' every article used for or entering into the composition of or intended for use as an ingredient in the preparation of food for man.” Prohibition against the use of boric acid is contained in section three which provides “that for the purpose of this act an article of food shall be deemed to be adulterated......5th. If it contains any added boric acid or borates,” etc. The learned judge of the court below based the decision on a determination that the compound was not food and that it did not contain added boracic acid within the meaning of the act. It was shown by the Commonwealth that the compound was' composed of boracic acid and salt: 94.93% of the former and 5.07% of the latter. .The compound was sold in packages on which were labels which included among other statements the following:

“Mrs. Price’s Canning Compound

“Manufactured by

“The Price Compound Company

“Minneapolis, Minn.

“May be used in canning all kinds of fruit, and is especially valuable for Corn, Beans, Peas, Asparagus, Tomatoes, Etc.”

“May also be used in making Catsup, Sweet Pickles or anything that is liable to ferment. It saves money, time, labor, worry and insures the best results. See our receipt book for instructions on canning and pickling.”

The contention of the Commonwealth is that the article sold was food and that it was also used and intended to be used as an ingredient in the preparation of food for man, and was therefore, within the prohibition of the statute.. It is conceded that the salt constituent of the compound was an article of food but the learned judge of the court below was of the opinion that in view of the small proportion of the food product and the large proportion of boric acid it ought to be assumed that the law was not intended to apply to a. preparation composed almost wholly of an article which is not food; that it could not consistently be held that 95 % could be added to 5% ; that the use of the word “added” in the statute “in common parlance” signifies “to unite the lesser in essence with the greater; the smaller in volume, magnitude or importance with the larger.” Pursuing this line of argument with illustrations the court reached the conclusion that the legislature never had in mind such an article of commerce as is under consideration in this case as an adulterated food. This construction, however, overlooks an important part of the statute which covers every article “entering into the composition of or intended for use as an ingredient in the preparation of food for man.” In either case therefore, whether the article sold may be classed as food or is merely a compound intended to be used in the composition of or as an ingredient in the preparation of food if it contain a constituent the use of which is prohibited in food it is within the purview of the statute. We are unable to agree with the learned court that the question must be disposed of on the basis of the proportions of the compound entering into the composition of food. Under such construction the purpose of the law might easily be defeated. A much smaller quantity of the prohibited article than that used in the canning compound might be used without violating the statute. If the proportion of 95% may be allowed, by like reasoning 80% or 70% would be permitted, for the larger could not be said to be added to the smaller quantity; the smaller quantity could not “contain” the larger. But it was not the intention of the legislature to determine the proportions in which food might be adulterated except in the limited use of sulphur dioxide and sodium benzoate as applied to certain articles. The United States statute contains language similar to that used in tbia Act of 1909 and in United States v. Coca Cola Company, 241 U. S. 265, the court considered the meaning of the word “added” and said: “Nor can we accept the view that the word ‘added’ should be taken as referring to the quantity of the ingredient used. It is added ingredient which the statute describes; not added quantity of ingredient.” This construction is required in the light of the purpose of the legislation which was not only to prevent fraud but to provide for the protection of the public health. What is necessary to promote this object is a legislative question, within constitutional limits, and the court is controlled by the legislative declaration on the subject. The combination of boric acid with common salt amounts to an adulteration within the meaning of the statute. The term “adulteration” is used in a particular sense. It is the combining of a forbidden substance with an article of food to be sold to the public. But the case of the Commonwealth stands on a broader base than this. The act defines “food” to be not only every article used as food for man but also every article entered into the composition of or intended for use as an ingredient in the preparation of food for man. It is not contended that the canning compound was not to enter into the composition of food or intended for use as an ingredient in the preparation of it. The contrary expressly appears. It was not only to be used in the preparation of food but was to become a constituent part thereof. It cannot be contended that when a quantity of it was added to the can or jar in the preparation of food it did not become a part of the contents of the can or jar and of course it entered into the food preparation. The letter of the statute prohibits this. If it was within the power of the legislature therefore to define what should be considered food the defendant offended against the law. It is not to be questioned that the legislature in passing an act may declare its meaning and construction and such declaration is binding on the courts: Com. v. Curry, 4 Pa. Superior Ct. 356; Com. v. Kebort, 212 Pa. 289. The definition of Section 2 of the act is sufficiently comprehensive to cover the case of a sale of this compound intended for use as an ingredient in the preparation of food. It is contended however, on the part of the appellee that the title of the statute is not sufficiently clear to meet the constitutional requirement. We are unable to agree with this contention. The title relates to food; to the protection of the public health by prohibiting the sale or offering for sale or having in possession with intent to sell adulterated or deleterious foods and gives notice that the act defines what shall be considered food. This title we regard as sufficiently comprehensive to impose the duty of inquiry as to the contents of the statute and persons dealing in food or in an article to be used in the preparation and composition of food are put on notice of all the statute contains. We are not required to apply'critical or strained construction to legislation of this character nor are we at liberty to set aside the legislative will except from imperious necessity imposed by the Constitution. We find no such necessity in this case.

The judgment is reversed and the record remitted to the court below with direction to impose sentence according to law.