CVS will pay $6.5M settlement in expired baby food case

In California, it's illegal for stores to sell baby formula and baby food past expiration dates — a practice CVS was accused of in a recent lawsuit filed by the state. 

CVS has now agreed to pay $6.5 million in penalties for allegedly selling expired items for four years, which included baby food and formula, as well as other over-the-counter drugs. This was according to a statement from Riverside (Calif.) County District Attorney Mike Hestrin who said that a settlement had been reached with a total of 12 district attorney offices across the state.

CVS has not admitted to any wrongdoing, and no one who used the products were harmed.

A representative from CVS could not be reached for comment. 

When the lawsuit was officially filed in Santa Cruz County Superior Court, CVS launched an investigation of its own at the time, in addition to cooperating with prosecutors. The investigation led to a new internal system being put in place to verify expiration dates. Existing CVS employees also were re-trained on how to handle expired product.

Woonsocket, R.I.-based CVS, which also agreed to pay $1 million in restitution to multiple California charities, operates over 800 stores in the state.