Big Chains May Sell Outdated Drugs

N E W   Y O R K, Dec. 6 -- Most people wouldn't buy milk or meat without checking the expiration date — but how many of us check the dates on aspirin or condoms before getting their items rung up at the drugstore?

Not many, it seems. A nine-month investigation by the consumer affairs department in New York's Nassau County found hundreds of expired goods being offered for sale at big-name drugstores.

The department ended up citing more than 100 drugstores for selling expired goods. Many ended up paying thousands of dollars in fines, according to Nassau County consumer affairs investigator Roger Bogsted.

"It was a total of 120 stores, but many were parts of chains which exist throughout this nation," Bogsted told ABCNEWS. "There is no question it's a nationwide problem."

During their probes, County Executive Tom Gulotta said investigators went into an number of stores and found hundreds of items in just an hour that were for sale beyond their expiration dates.

Fines for Outdated Drugs

Rite Aid was one of four major drugstore chains that was required to pay thousands of dollars in fines to the Long Island county for selling expired products, says Gulotta.

It wasn't the first time: In 1999, California officials found that Rite Aid stores statewide were selling out-of-date goods. At that time, investigators discovered condoms for sale that were four years past their expiration date — too old to rely on for birth control or disease prevention. The chain wound up paying $1.1 million in fines to the state.

One California customer, Dong Wong, said he was surprised when he discovered that he had bought expired goods from the drugstore.

"Rite Aid is a big chain and I think they are big enough to take care of this problem," Wong said.

Nassau County fined Rite Aid $17,650. In a statement, Rite Aid said "We've retrained our stores and store managers on procedures and believe we have greatly improved compliance and continue to work hard on it."

No Guarantees Beyond Expiration Date