CVS punished for misleading product packaging
CVS will pay almost quarter million dollars for misleading customers into believing they were getting more of a product than they really were, using false bottoms or false sides in its packaging.
Action News has obtained court documents detailing the investigation and final judgment against the Rhode Island-based pharmacy giant. It says CVS mislabeled 11 products under its own brand. Investigators found the company misrepresented product sizes or quantity "by use of oversized and non-functional slack-fill and/or false sidewalls and /or false bottoms," according to the documents.
The packaging violated California business and professions codes and health and safety codes.
Under an agreement, CVS will pay a $225,000 settlement to four California counties - including $54,810 each to Fresno, Yolo, Sacramento, and Shasta counties. The settlement also includes $3,000 to the Sacramento County Dept. of Weights and Measures, $1,560 to the Yolo County Agricultural Commissioner, and $1,200 to the California Dept. of Agriculture, Division of Weights and Measures.
CVS has two years to comply with state labeling laws, and can continue manufacturing the products until January 1, 2015. In other words, it can still produce the mislabeled products for three more months and can sell them for two years.
The mislabeled products were identified as:
- Accelerated Wrinkle Repair Moisturizer, Day
- Accelerated Wrinkle Repair Moisturizer, Night
- Age Refine Eye Cream, 0.5 ounces
- Age-Refine Day Cream, 2.5 ounces
- Anti-Wrinkle And Firming Cream
- Healthy Complexion Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizer Acne Treatment Cream, Clear Skin
- Frizz-Defy Hair Serum
- Moisturizing Face Cream Hair Remover
- Preventin -AT 2 in 1 Dark Circle And Wrinkle Eye Treatment
- Maximum Scalp Relief
- Ultra Firm And Lift Eye Duo
CVS sent the following response to ABC30 Action News:
