Save Mart Supermarkets has been fined $1.6 million for violating health and safety laws, Sonoma County District Attorney Carla Rodriguez announced last week.
Save Mart Supermarkets operates 194 grocery stores throughout California under the names Save Mart, Lucky, Lucky California, FoodMaxx and Maxx Value Food.
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Driving the news: : According to Rodriguez, Save Mart was allegedly selling products past their expiration dates.
- An investigation found that the company failed to remove expired medications, baby food and infant formula beyond their use by dates since at least 2018.
- Rodriguez said Save Mart was cooperative and conducted internal checks at all of its California locations.
- There was no evidence discovered that the sale of any expired products harmed any consumers.
The big picture: Save Mart agreed to a settlement to pay $1.56 million in civil penalties and costs as well as an additional $40,000 in restitution to a trust that funds future consumer related prosecutions.
What they’re saying: “Consumers expect that the products they purchase at supermarkets are not expired, or beyond the “use by date” provided by the manufacturer of the product,” Rodriguez said. “We are proud to partner with other District Attorneys around the State in bringing this important consumer protection action.”
