United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

Houston v. St. Louis Independent Packing Co., 249 U.S. 479 (1919)

Houston v. St. Louis Independent Packing Company

No. 264

Argued March 20, 1919

Decided April 14, 1919

249 U.S. 479

Syllabus

Under the Meat Inspection Act, the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to prohibit the use of the word "sausage" as false and deceptive, when applied to a compound of meat, with added cereal in excess of 2 percent and added water or ice in excess of 3 percent. P. 249 U. S. 483.

The act does not require the Secretary to mark a meat food product "inspected and passed" merely because it is wholesome and free from dyes and chemicals if it is to be sold under a deceptive name. P. 249 U. S. 484.

Whether the name "sausage" is deceptive as applied to a compound of meat with added cereal and water is a question of fact which the statute submits to the determination of the Secretary, under the power it gives him to make rules and regulations for carrying it into effect, and his decision, when fairly arrived at on substantial evidence, is conclusive. Id.

242 F.3d 7 reversed.

The case is stated in the opinion.