They found many, and more.
Not even two weeks ago, a bottle of infant formula that expired in April of 2007 was on a store shelf. So why was it on the shelf a year and five months later?
"I think that the stores absolutely have a responsibility to do the right thing, to follow the law and to not be selling expired merchandise to consumers," New Jersey Attorney General Ann Milgram said.
Milgram and the state's Consumer Affairs office on Thursday displayed dozens of outdated, over-the-counter medicines and infant formulas pulled from Targets, Wal-Marts and Drug Fairs across the state during a two-week investigation.
There were more than 2,500 violations, more than 1,200 of them against Wal-Mart. One Wal-Mart shopper was not surprised.
"A lot of times, when I do see the expiration date expired, I go right to the manager or the store clerk and I tell them about it," Fair Lawn resident Michelle Bednarz said. "And they'll tell me, 'That's what we have on the shelf.'"
In a lawsuit against the companies, Milgram also accuses many store locations of failing to post prices. She says the stores advertised one price and then charged a different one at the register. She also says many practiced what her office calls luring, in which an item is advertised in the circular but not available in the store. Then, the store banks on the customer buying other things while there.
"This costs consumers extra money," said David Szuchman, Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs. "It is fraud, plain and simple."
In a statement, Wal-Mart officials say they haven't seen a complaint, but say they are willing to work with state regulators to address their concerns. Drug Fair officials say they are cooperating with the attorney general's office to address the issue. All the violations could cost the stores hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines.
To read the complaint against Wal-Mart and get a list of stores that were cited, CLICK HERE.
To read the complaint against Drug Fair and get a list of stores that were cited, CLICK HERE.
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STORY BY: New Jersey reporter Toni Yates
WEB PRODUCED BY: Bill King
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