The expired products were allegedly sold during the last several years and the practice was stopped only after the Merced and Fresno County District Attorney's offices notified company officials. According to Gordon Spencer, Merced County District Attorney, the sale of expired infant formula and other expired products was prevalent throughout the Save Mart system, with some products nearly two years past the expiration date. Parents pay a premium dollar for infant formula in the belief that it will provide the maximum nutritional value to their children. For at least two years, Save Mart customers throughout California were purchasing infant formula well past the expiration date listed on the cans by the product manufacturer.
Infant formula is extremely expensive, especially compared to regular milk.
According to Spencer and Alan Yengoyan, head of the Fresno County Consumer Protection Division, the lawsuit stemmed from the continuing investigation into the sale of expired products by retailers throughout the state. Consumers are urged to check the dates of infant formula and other products purchased at these stores.