Published: June 12, 2008 11:50 pm            

TONAWANDAS: Cuomo cites local CVS, Rite Aid stores

CVS and Rite Aid drug stores in the Tonawandas are among 20 in Western New York that have been cited for “a shameless disregard for public health,” New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo reported Thursday.

Cuomo said he is taking legal action against the drug store chains after a statewide investigation revealed that more than 200 CVS and Rite Aid stores sold products such as milk, baby formula and eggs past their expiration date. Cuomo’s report cited 11 locations in Erie County and four in Niagara County.

Investigators found one carton of Byrne’s chocolate milk was two days past expiration at the CVS at 1717 Sheridan Drive in the Town of Tonawanda, while the CVS at 795 Center St., Lewiston, was cited for carrying one bottle of infant ibuprofen on the shelf with an expiration date of February 2008. The investigators visited that store March 26.

Three Rite Aid locations in Niagara County were flagged, all for selling expired milk, including the Rite Aid at 419 Division St., North Tonawanda. The other two are in Lockport and Niagara Falls.

In all, the state Attorney General’s investigation cites 254 CVS and Rite Aid pharmacies across the state. In a statement, Cuomo said his investigation, which began in March, “has uncovered a shameful disregard for public health in these stores.”

Because of the stores’ failure to remove the potentially dangerous products from their shelves, Cuomo has sent the companies a five-day notice letter, informing them of his intent to sue.

In his letter to Rite Aid’s executive vice president, Cuomo wrote, “The widespread nature of these violations indicates that Rite Aid maintains an implicit company policy to maximize profits through the selling of expired goods to the public.”

        

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