
United States v. Carolene Products Co.
United States Supreme Court
304 U.S. 144 (1938)
Relevant factsFree
Congress's Filled Milk Act criminalized shipping skimmed milk compounded with non-milk fats to resemble milk or cream in interstate commerce; Carolene Products Co. (defendant), indicted for shipping such a product ("Milnut," a skim milk and coconut oil compound), argued the Act was unconstitutional, and the district court granted its motion to dismiss, prompting the government's direct appeal to the Supreme Court.
IssueFree
Whether rational-basis review, rather than a heightened level of judicial scrutiny, is the appropriate standard for evaluating congressional legislation regulating common commercial products like food.
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