Connecticut accuses CVS of selling expired items
Woonsocket, R.I. The state of Connecticut is suing CVS/pharmacy, a division of CVS Caremark Corp., claiming the drugstore chain has sold food, beverages and over-the-counter medications past their expiration dates in at least 20 of its Connecticut stores.
Investigators from State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal’s office found expired products on CVS store shelves during summer 2008 and this summer. Expired products included cough and allergy medications, baby formula, antacids, energy drinks and dairy products.
CVS officials issued a statement saying they were notified of the allegations Monday, and it is CVS company policy to remove all items from store shelves before their expiration date passes.
According to Blumenthal, about half of the stores that investigators visited this summer had expired products on the shelves, up from about a quarter of stores that had expired products when investigators checked in summer 2008.
After his office received complaints from consumers about the sale of expired products, Blumenthal sent investigators to visit about 40 stores statewide in summer 2008 and about 45 stores this summer. Stores were chosen at random.
In 2008, 10 stores were selling expired products. In summer 2009, 20 stores -- including the same 10 that sold them in 2008 -- had expired goods for sale.
The state’s lawsuit seeks monetary penalties for violating state consumer protection laws, as well as an order barring CVS from selling products past their expiration dates.