INDIANAPOLIS -- An advocacy group is rallying against CVS Drugstores, claiming the chain routinely fails to remove expired products from its shelves.

The organization Change To Win targeted 46 CVS stores in 11 central Indiana counties and documented dozens of medications and infant formulas that had expired, Call 6's Rafael Sanchez reported.

Some of the products were a year past their expiration dates, while others were several months past. Receipts showed all of the items had been bought since May 7.

"It's an issue of putting corporate greed and profits before the care of their consumers," said Allison Luthe, a member of Central Indiana Jobs With Justice, which supports Change To Win's efforts.

A CVS spokeswoman did not deny that the products found in Indiana were outdated, but said the company has a policy to remove items before they expire.

"The health and safety of our customers is our top priority," Carolyn Castel, vice president of corporate communications for CVS Caremark, said in a statement. "While no process this labor-intensive is immune from error -- a typical CVS/pharmacy has more than 100,000 items on its shelves -- we strive to achieve 100 percent compliance and move quickly to rectify any unintentional deviation from our policies and procedures."

A 2006 Call 6 investigation found that several discount stores also regularly had expired medications on their shelves.

The Federal Drug Administration has rules concerning expired over-the-counter drugs, but rarely enforces them, while the Indiana State Department of Health does not regulate the medicines.

Current law only allows the Marion County Health Department to inspect refrigerated foods in pharmacies. Director Dr. Virginia Caine said using medications before they expire is vital.

"It is so critical to that if I'm taking a medicine I need to know it's potent and that it's got products that makes it work," she said.

The Change To Win organization has been in a longstanding dispute with CVS over union elections. The drugstore chain called the group's efforts "misleading."

More Information: CVS Statement