More than 130 CVS own-brand drugs recalled by FDA - after horrifying truths about how meds are made

A new analysis has revealed the dangers of buying CVS' own-brand drugs.

FDA data shows America's largest pharmacy chain recalled 133 over-the-counter medicines over the last decade, or about one a month.

That was more than twice as many as its competitor Walgreens, which had 70 recalls over the same period, and three times more than Walmart, which had 51 recalls.

The reasons for the CVS recalls included drugs being infested with bacteria, mold growing in factory ventilators, peeling paint and barefoot workers in factories and pills containing incorrect doses.

Own-brand eye drops were the CVS products most likely to be recalled over the last decade, followed by own-brand constipation drugs — such as magnesium citrate tablets — and those for treating colds and flus.

An analysis of recalls showed that over the last decade CVS has recorded 133 recalls, at least twice as many as its two closest rivals

Pictured above is the factory run by Kilitch Healthcare India Limited which made eyedrops sold at stores including CVS, where they also carried the company's label

Recalled products were manufactured by companies based in China and India, as well as some in the US — including Tennessee and Florida.

CVS has seen its recalls rise in recent years, recording less than ten a year from 2014 to 2018 but above this number for four out of six years since then.

So far this year, the chain has recorded 11 recalls — mostly for eye drops, cough medicines and drugs for treating constipation.

Experts have been warning for some time over generic medicines, saying there are too few incentives for pharmacy chains to ensure their quality.

This is due to a loophole in FDA rules which makes CVS not responsible for the quality of generics manufactured by third-party factories, even when the products carry a red heart and the words 'CVS Health'.

Dr Kevin Schulman, a medicine expert at Stanford University, told Bloomberg: 'The best way to make a low-price product is to skimp on quality, and that's what we're seeing over and over and over again.'

A spokesperson for CVS said in a statement that the chain — which has more than 9,000 stores nationally — prioritizes 'good manufacturing and ethical sourcing practices'.

They added that CVS brands 'are designed to maximize quality and safety, work as intended, comply with regulations and satisfy customers'.

Above shows two CVS-branded products that were recalled because of contamination. They are eye ointment manufactured in India and constipation tablets made in Tennessee 

CVS said all its own brand medications are manufactured to a high standard

In one instance from January this year, allergy medications made for CVS by an Indian company were recalled after FDA inspectors found stagnant liquid — growing yeast and mold — inside an air purification unit at the drugmaker's facility in India, reports show.

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Ointment for dry eyes is recalled nationwide due to infection risk

And in a second from October last year, investigators arrived at a factory in India that made CVS eye drops only to find peeling paint and barefoot workers. An investigation by the FDA also revealed fabricated test results that made products from the factory appear safe.

In a third case from 2022, CVS recalled magnesium citrate tablets — used for constipation — after they were found to have been contaminated by microbes. The tablets were made by Tennessee-based company Vi-Jon.

In a fourth case from 2019, FDA inspectors found that a factory in Florida making children's cough syrup for CVS was using water contaminated with a bacteria that can be deadly to youngsters with weakened immune systems.

Inspectors determined that the company, called Unipharma LLC and now defunct, had been ignoring test results revealing the bacteria.

The discovery led to all of its non-prescription products being recalled, also including cherry-flavored children's pain and fever medicine, mixed berry-flavored children's allergy relief and pineapple-flavored children's cough syrup.

There was also a recall of CVS own-brand ibuprofen tablets that same year after investigators found the pills contained more of the painkiller than the label suggested. 

CVS sells more than 2,000 store-brand health and wellness products in the US, with the own-brand market worth $236billion in 2023 according to estimates.

It comes after the US was rocked by a recall of more than 26 store-brand eye drops sold across pharmacies in the country, also including Rite Aid and Walmart.

The drops were contaminated with a bacteria linked to blindness and lethal infections that experts said was able to 'melt through' eyes.

At least four people died from sepsis after using the eyedrops, while 14 lost their vision and more than 80 infections were reported.