Blumenthal: CVS sold expired products

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal charged today in a lawsuit that CVS Pharmacy Inc. has been selling expired food, beverages and over-the-counter medicines at some of its Connecticut stores, including three in the region.

Blumenthal said his investigation found that nearly half of CVS stores surveyed statewide — including in Old Saybrook, Waterford and New London — have been selling expired products. That’s about twice the number of CVS stores that sold expired products last year.

"Especially appalling is the sale of expired baby formula," Blumenthal said in a statement. "CVS’ failure to properly police and supervise its shelves — allowing out-of-date medicine and potentially rotten food to remain — is unconscionable and unacceptable."

CVS spokesmen were not immediately available for comment.

Blumenthal, who said he filed suit in cooperation with the state Department of Consumer Protection, began investigating CVS last year after receiving complaints about expired products. Investigators initially visited 40 stores and found 10 that sold expired products; a follow-up investigation this year of 45 stores found 20 selling items past their expiration date.

Blumenthal’s lawsuit seeks monetary penalties and an order barring CVS from selling expired products.