sullivan argued december decided january sullivan robert stern washington petitioner robert arnold madden hatcher columbus respondent justice black delivered opinion respondent retail druggist columbus georgia charged two counts information violation federal food drug cosmetic act section prohibits act respect drug act done article held sale shipment interstate commerce results article misbranded section act declares drug misbranded unless labeling bears adequate directions use adequate warnings use dangerous health unsafe dosage necessary protection users information charged specifically respondent performed certain acts resulted sulfathiazole sale shipment interstate commerce facts alleged laboratory shipped interstate commerce chicago illinois consignee atlanta georgia number bottles containing sulfathiazole tablets bottles labels affixed required act set adequate directions use tablets adequate warnings protect ultimt consumers dangers incident use respondent bought one properly labeled bottles sulfathiazole tablets atlanta consignee transferred columbus georgia drugstore held tablets resale two separate occasions twelve tablets removed properly labeled branded bottle placed pill boxes sold customers boxes labeled contain statutorily required adequate directions use warnings danger respondent motion dismiss information overruled jury waived evidence heard respondent convicted counts circuit appeals reversed thought result respondent action sulfathiazole became within meaning federal act possible sense act language include happened however also opinion act taken broadly held apply holding first sale importer interstate shipment thus circuit appeals interpreted statutory language article held sale shipment interstate commerce though congress said article held sale person received way shipment interstate commerce granted certiorari review important question concerning act coverage first narrow construction given rested much upon language upon circuit view consequences might result broader interpretation urged government pointed retail sales involved made columbus nine months sulfathiazole shipped chicago atlanta impressed fact statutory language article held sale shipment interstate commerce given literal meaning criminal provisions relied state sales imported drugs number intermediate sales within state lapse time sales drugs also similar retail sales foods devices cosmetics equally covered provisions act emphasized consequences result farreaching inroads upon customary control local authorities traditionally local activities purpose afford local retail purchasers federal protection harmful foods drugs cosmetics ascribed congress absence exceptionally clear mandate citing federal trade commission bunte another reason refraining construing act applicable articles misbranded held retail sale even though articles previously shipped interstate commerce opinion sc construction raise grave doubts act constitutionality support position cited national labor relations board jones laughlin steel coroporation schechter poultry corporation restrictive interpretation given statute merely congress chosen depart custom giving effect express language employed congress might require face constitutional question none foregoing cases relied authorizes interpreting statute depart clear meaning reasonably plain congress meant act prohibit certain conduct one references justifies distortion congressional purpose even clearly correct purpose makes marked deviations custom leads inevitably holding constitutional invalidity although criminal statutes must precise unambiguous ordinary person know avoid unlawful conduct see kraus even determining whether statutes meet test given fair meaning accord evident intent congress raynor second another consideration moved circuit appeals give statute narrow construction belief holding case reference misbranding drugs retail druggist necessarily apply also retail sales foods devices cosmetics said equally covered provisions act effect possible coverage act graphically magnified told application local sales sulfathiazole logically require retail grocers beauty parlor operators reproduce bulk container labels individual item taken container sell purchaser even prophesied given interpretation urged government later applied require retail merchants label sticks candy sardines removed containers sale scope offense congress defined judicially narrowed applied drugs envisioning extreme possible applications different misbranding provisions relate food cosmetics like opportunity enough consider contingencies ever arise may noted however administrator act given rather broad enough undoubtedly enable perform duties fairly without wasting efforts may technical infractions law illustration administrator discretion permits excuse minor violations warning believes public interest thereby quately served administrator given extensive authority issue regulations exempting labeling requirements many articles otherwise fall within portion act provisions regard food apparently broad enough permit relaxation labeling requirements might otherwise impose burden retailers proportion value consumer third seek meaning language find offense creates charged requires act respect drug results misbranded article held sale shipment interstate mmerce respondent seriously contended portion ambiguous section seen provides drug misbranded unless labeling contains adequate directions adequate warnings labeling contain information requires suggestion although alteration mutilation destruction obliteration bottle label transferring pills boxes long labeling empty bottle disturbed argument sustained chief purpose forbidding destruction label keep intact information protection consumer purpose frustrated pills consumer buys labeled required whether label torn original container pills transferred one find ambiguity misbranding language act furthermore require great ingenuity discover ambiguity additional requirement misbranding occur article held sale shipment interstate commerce words accurately describe respondent conduct held drugs sale shipped interstate commerce chicago atlanta true respondent bought six months interstate shipment completed delivery another consignee language used congress broadly unqualifiedly prohibits misbranding articles held sale shipment interstate commerce without regard long shipment misbranding occurred many intrastate sales intervened received articles end interstate shipment accordingly find conduct respondent falls within literal language fourth given meaning found literal language thoroughly consistent general aims purposes act act whole designed primarily protect consumers dangerous products recognized dotterweich reviewing house senate committee reports bill became law purpose safeguard consumer applying act articles moment introduction interstate commerce way moment delivery ultimate consumer section forbids delivery introduction interstate commerce misbranded adulterated drugs forbids misbranding adulteration drugs interstate commerce prohibits interstate commerce misbranded adulterated drug delivery proffered delivery thereof pay otherwise three paragraphs alone supply protection way consumer words paragraph article held sale shipment interstate commerce apparently designed fill gap extend act coverage every article gone interstate commerce finally reached ultimate consumer doubtless purpose insure federal protection moment articles passed hands consumer way intrastate transaction moved house committee interstate foreign commerce report section act follows order extend protection consumers contemplated law full extent constitutionally possible paragraph inserted prohibiting changing labels misbrand articles held sale interstate shipment hold prohibits misbranding arged information fifth contended act construed beyond authority granted congress constitution invades powers reserved similar challenge made pure food drug act stat et rejected mcdermott state wisconsin act contain prohibit misbranding authorized seizure misbranded articles shipped one state another long remained authority congress make requirement upheld proper exercise powers commerce clause two variants circumstances case one mcdermott case labels involved original containers labels required put original boxes tablets transferred also mcdermott case possessor labeled cans held sale receive way interstate sale shipment petitioner received sulfathiazole way intrastate sale shipment bought wholesaler received direct consignee interstate shipment variants sufficient think detract applicability mcdermott holding present decision cases alike question relates constitutional power congress commerce clause regulate branding articles completed interstate shipment held future sales purely local intrastate commerce reasons given mcdermott holding therefore equally applicable persuasive many cases decided since mcdermott decision lend support validity see walsh wickard filburn wrightwood dairy darby see olsen reversed justice rutledge concurring case presented federal food drug cosmetic act posed inescapable dilemma said must either ignore congress obvious intention protect ultimate consumers drugs labeling requirements literally plainly made applicable sales case make criminal every corner grocer takes stick candy properly labeled container sells child without wrapping similar label factor found statute provisions relating specifically drugs provisions taken clear unequivocal expressed purpose protect ultimate consumer labeling requirements legislative history standing alone therefore drug provisions cover case without room serious question however provisions stand entirely separate independent act structure respects particularly interlaced provisions affecting food cosmetics fact drawn conclusion decision necessarily control future decisions concerning different commodities statute written required furnishing substantial basis differentiating cases decision difficult conceive think statute laid trap said faced oversimplified view terms effects produce result act long complia ted numerous provisions treat different subjects drugs food cosmetics alike respects differently others differences important similarities ignored necessary construction statute looking merely terms true deals indiscriminately food drugs devices cosmetics surface terms alone hence said transfer sulfathiazole highly dangerous drug bulk container small box retail sale act unless similar transfer candies usually harmless also act hypothesis concluded phrase must interpreted reference particularities precede namely alteration mutilation destruction obliteration removal part label must limited particularities construction almost quite removes act section goes far emasculate section effective enforcement especially relation drugs dealer holding drugs sale shipment interstate commerce avoid statute effect simply leaving label intact removing contents bulk container selling however deadly broken parcels without label warning think congress meant phrase disastrously limited act respect food drug device cosmetic prohibited act results article misbranded statute provides single common definition misbranding foods drugs cosmetics separate differing sections misbranded foods misbranded drugs devices misbranded cosmetics term used therefore one uniform connotation contrary meaning variable relation different commodities sections defining misbranding also necessarily meaning act produces misbranding consequences three sections therefore must taken account determining meaning intended scope application relation specific type commodity involved particular sale congress overridden broadside generalization glossed upon statute might expected congress lump food drugs cosmetics one indiscriminate hopper purpose applying either respect misbranding act produces consequence brief reference several misbranding sections incorporated reference substantiates conclusion three sections contain common provisions fact section also different two important respects indicates broad subdivision act presents different problems interpretation neither misbranded foods section misbranded cosmetics section contains provision directly comparable respondent violated section however contrasted one subsections dealing misbranded foods comparison two provisions indicates particular act respect drug may result misbranding whereas method selling food proper section provides drug shall deemed misbranded labeling bears adequate directions use adequate warnings use pathological conditions children use may dangerous health unsafe dosage methods duration administration application manner form necessary protection users provided requirement clause paragraph applied drug device necessary protection public health administrator shall promulgate regulations exempting drug device requirement provision dealing directions use warnings improper use terms designed protection users effective protection requires regulations label container bears drug reaches ultimate consumer legislative history leaves doubt draftsmen sponsors realized importance dangerous drugs properly labeled time use time sale intent protect public health emphasized limited scope proviso directs administrator make exemptions compliance clause necessary protection public health section contains principal basis every retail grocer criminal different terms food deemed misbranded bears contains artificial flavoring artificial coloring chemical preservative unless bears labeling stating fact provided extent compliance requirements paragraph impracticable exemptions shall established regulations promulgated administrator provisions paragraph paragraphs respect artificial coloring shall apply case butter cheese ice cream section contrast coverage drugs applies foods shipped interstate restricted classes containing artificial flavoring coloring chemical preservatives labeling requirement much simpler proviso confers much broader power exemption upon administrator proviso latter given power exempt ground compliance impracticable weigh ness convenience protection public health finds labeling necessary protection authorized create exemption drugs devices health security first exclusive criterion however dealing foods administrator dispense labels much broadly terms criterion action becomes extent compliance impracticable rather requirement clause adequate directions use necessary protection public health practical considerations affecting burden compliance manufacturers retailers irrelevant become controlling thus statute intent much rigid invariable compliance labeling requirements drugs contemplated foods apart greatly narrower coverage latter difficulty compliance requirements articles candies explains difference two provisos differences particularly differences provisos direct intended relation problem enforcement labeling requirements foods given much narrower selective scope application drugs difference magnified conversely differing room allowed exemptions perhaps equally important provisos relevant enforcement beyond specific action taken administrator create exemptions duty sections cast mandatory terms whether forced mandamus act certain situations failure act seem clearly violation duty obviously must many instances compliance labeling requirements foods compliance different requirements drugs protection public health difference obviously important enforcement particularly criminal prosecution think one courts entitled take account called upon punish violations authors legislation recognized expressly innocent violations frequently arise sess words conduct may prohibited act literal wording nevertheless immune prosecution situation arises often may reference foods virtue administrator failure discharge duty create exemptions dealer questioned action takes place failure judgment matter consideration determining whether prosecution proceed whenever made appear violation innocent one act administrator made exemption required prosecution stopped tated direct retroactive administrative determination private rights unusual course seemed appropriate solution determination addison holly hill fruit products permissible civil litigation much greater reason analogous step taking account criminal prosecution administrative officer failure act commanded action taken made prosecution impossible clear therefore corner grocer occupies position jeopardy legislation druggist meaning identical two either amounts misbranding act creating result supposed dilemma false congress power impose drug restrictions clearly applicable case decision rule corner grocer selling candy judgment reversed therefore join judgment opinion effect justice frankfurter dissenting takes nine pages determine scope statute meaning hardly clear runs may read even reads may read generalities regarding effect given meaning statute make meaning particular statute opinion barely faces balance considerations seems controlling difficulty rendering federal food drug cosmetic act stat section doubtr elates articles sale shipment interstate commerce results article misbranded article mutilation destruction obliteration removal whole part labeling act respect food drug device cosmetic mutilation destruction obliteration removal part label decisive question whether taking unit container putting bag whether food drug cosmetic act context phrase used setting federal food drug cosmetic act particularly bearing upon appropriate answer question transfer jar bulk container small paper bag without transferring label jar paper bag act applied drug act applied candies cosmetics reach possible discretion may exercised prosecuting certain conduct must determined whether anything prosecute therefore put day determine whether act applies ordinary retail sale candies cosmetics every drug store grocery throughout land places every corner grocery drug store hazard administrator may report conduct prosecution question part case simple reason prohibited conduct applies equal force phrase food drugs cosmetics insofar required labeled see act inescapable conjunction food drugs cosmetics prohibition calls consideration phrase act context rest sentence due regard important fact also deeply concerned protection health welfare citizens transactions peculiarly within local enforcing powers considered act read meaning radiates loose phrase particularities precede namely mutilation destruction obliteration removal part label disregard considerations find clear meaning reach sum omitting figures added nothing legislative history act including excerpt committee report reliance placed give slightest basis inferring congress contemplated finds statute statute entirety course intended protect ultimate consumer true regard requirements pertaining drugs pertaining food reach means ultimate purpose legislative history sheds precisely light provisions pertaining food provisions pertaining drugs differentiations made enforcement act meaning ordinary person derive act differentiations interpolations construction expressions congress light approach problem construction presented act affirm judgment justice reed justc jackson join dissent footnotes following acts causing thereof hereby prohibited alteration mutilation destruction obliteration removal whole part labeling act respect food drug device cosmetic act done article held sale shipment interstate commerce results article misbranded stat following inscription appeared bottle labels compliance requires directions use used prescription physician appear constitute adequate directions since required regulation issued administrator pursuant authority act following appeared label bottles compliance requires warnings danger individuals sulfathiazole may cause severe toxic reactions daily blood counts evidence anemia leukopenia urine examinations hematuria recommended familiarize use product administered circular giving full directions contraindications furnished upon request identical language see sess see sess proviso paragraph likewise requires establishment regulations exempting packages assorted foods naming ingredients appearance order predominance weight good manufacturing practice label declaration information impracticable provision particularly applicable example assorted confections normal manufacturing practices may vary package package respect identity ingredients also regard relative proportions ingredients common packages sess proviso discussed discussion brings sort considerations require exemption compliance impracticable alteration mutilation destruction obliteration removal whole part labeling act respect food drug device cosmetic act done article held sale shipment interstate commerce results article misbranded