WALMART is set to pay out a whopping $16million to settle claims it kept out-of-date products on shelves.
The retail giant has agreed to settle the civil lawsuit filed by several counties across California.
They accused the retailer of stocking expired baby formula and medication on shelves, putting consumers at risk.
No evidence was presented that showed anyone was harmed by the out-of-date goods on sale, which included cough syrup, sunscreen, and cosmetics, per the lawsuit.
On Wednesday, the Solano County District Attorney’s Office confirmed that the retailer cooperated with the investigation and agreed to the settlement which will also bring changes to stores.
“Parents should never have to worry that the infant formula or medications they purchase for their children are expired and potentially unsafe,” Solano County District Attorney Krishna Abrams said.
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She said that the multi-million dollar settlement “strengthens safeguards to prevent similar violations in the future.”
Under the terms of the settlement, Walmart will pay over $15.7 million in penalties to the state’s local governments that brought the suit and a further $250,000 in fees.
In addition to this, the retail giant is banned from selling baby formula and over the counter drugs that have exceeded their use-by date across all stores in California.
Chiefs have also been ordered to roll out a brand new training program for in-store staff and more rigorous inventory checks.
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This will see employees better informed on how to spot expired goods and to remove them from shelves.
Prosecutors noted that Walmart had already started making compliance changes before the settlement was reached.
Shoppers will not receive any money from this settlement.
No public statement has been made by Walmart regarding the settlement of the lawsuit.