NORWICH – The New York State Attorney General announced Thursday he will be taking legal action against more than 112 Rite Aid stores and 142 CVS stores across the state that were allegedly selling expired goods.
Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said undercover investigators were able to purchase expired goods, including milk, eggs, medicines and baby formula at several stores across New York State, including the Norwich Rite Aid Pharmacy, located at 82 North Broad Street in Norwich. Cuomo’s office began investigating pharmacies after receiving complaints from consumers, but received no reports of illness, spokesman Lee Park said in an Associated Press story.
According to the statement, released yesterday, investigators were able to purchase expired Ensure and Similac at the Norwich branch of the store. Investigators allege the Ensure, a nutritional shake product, expired on August 1, 2007. The Similac, a brand of baby formula, was said to have expired on Jan. 1, 2008. The inspection took place on March 31, 2008.
In total, more than 600 expired products were purchased by investigators at 154 stores in New York, some that were more than a year past their posted expiration date. The report found 21 stores in the Central New York region and 23 stores in the Southern Tier that were selling expired products. Other area stores found to be selling the expired products were found in Oneonta, Cortland, Binghamton, Endicott, Vestal and Johnson City.
“My ongoing investigation has uncovered a shameful disregard for public health in these stores,” said Cuomo in the press release. “Families across New York State buy products from these establishments assuming that they’re coming from a safe reputable source. However, when the products pass their expiration dates, they become ineffective and potentially unsafe, threatening to put out loved ones at risk.”
Cuomo sent a five day notice letter to Rite Aid and CVS, notifying both the companies of the intent to commence litigation against them. “These companies allowed personal profit to get ahead of their customers health. I am committed to protecting New York consumers and we will continue to investigate these troubling practices,” Cuomo said.
