CVS ordered to pay $7.5 million in settlement after selling expired medicine and baby food
CVS must pay $7.5 million to settle claims over sales of expired drugs and baby formula in California
- A $1 million grant will go to non-profit organizations
- This is because it is impossible to know which customers bought the products
- HAVE YOU RECENTLY PURCHASED EXPIRED PRODUCTS FROM CVS? Please contact caitlin.tilley@mailonline.com
- READ MORE: Pfizer recalls 4.2 million drug packages
CVS, a US retail company, will have to pay a $7.5 million settlement in California over claims it sold expired baby food and medicines.
Prosecutors filed a civil suit against CVS in Santa Cruz County Superior Court alleging past-expiry sales of baby formula, over-the-counter drugs and infant formula.
A judge last week ordered CVS to cough up $6.5 million in civil penalties and investigative costs, and 27 counties will face fines between $12,500 and $475,000.
Last year, a shortage of baby food in America led to the FDA warning that expired products were unsafe to use.
After being made aware of the problem, CVS searched for obsolete goods in its California stores and trained staff on how to exchange expired products.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) strongly discourages the use of expired medications, as they may be less effective or dangerous due to a change in chemical composition or decrease in strength
Investigators found no evidence of harm to customers from expired products.
CVS must also pay $1 million in compensation, but because it was deemed impossible to identify which customers purchased the products, the amount will go to non-profit organizations.
These include a public health charity in Oakland, a nonprofit homelessness organization in Santa Monica, and food banks in Fresno and Stockton.
After being made aware of the problem, CVS began looking for obsolete goods in its California stores and trained staff to switch over expired products.
The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement: ‘CVS cooperated and conducted internal audits of over-the-counter medications, infant formulas and infant formulas that were past their expiration dates at all of their California store locations.
CVS has also invested time and resources in establishing a best-before date verification program and retraining store associates on how to verify the dates.
“The investigation has not produced any evidence that the sale of expired products has resulted in physical harm to consumers.”
CVS said in a statement to Southern California’s City News Service that its leaders are “gratified to have come to an agreement in California and are making significant improvements and investments in technology, auditing and training of colleagues.”
It added: ‘CVS Pharmacy has a clear product removal policy to ensure items are removed from shelves before they reach their expiration date.
“Any inadvertent deviation from this policy brought to our attention will be promptly corrected.”
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) strongly discourages the use of expired medications, as they may be less effective or dangerous due to a change in chemical composition or decrease in strength.
Some obsolete medications are even susceptible to bacterial growth.
The FDA website warns, “Once the expiration date has passed, there is no guarantee that the drug will be safe and effective. Do not use if the expiration date of your medicine has passed.”
With baby food, the nutrients in the formula will begin to break down after the expiration date.
Similarly, baby food is not made to last forever and bacteria can grow over time.
The FDA said the expiration date “is the date until which the manufacturer warrants the nutrient content and quality of the formula.
“After this date, a pack or jar of infant formula may no longer be given to infants.”