Most Shoplifted Items? Infant formula now under Lock and Key
A Rash of Infant Formula Thefts Have Grocers Locking Up Infant Formula
The CVS chain of stores in Connecticut recently put formula under lock and key at its 131 stores. This is happening not just at CVS stores, but at grocery stores, and mom and pop stores all over the country. A can of infant formula ranges in price from $13.99 to $75 a can, a thief stealing infant formula can rack up some serious damage to a single store with the theft of infant formula.
The Food Marketing Institute, maintains a list of the 50 most shoplifted items. While the number one most shoplifted item is a 50 count packet of Advil, Similac makes the list three times. A case of Similac with Iron formula ranks #7on the top 50 most shoplifted items while a single can of Similac with iron ranks number #8. Similac concentrate with iron ranks number 21 on the list.
One question that would surely arise would be why are all of these people stealing infant formula. Is this infant formula being used for infants? The answer is yes and no. There is a black market out there for infant formula. The item can be stolen and sold to a mom in need for half the retail price. This does happen but it is not the most common use.
Infant formula is often used in the drug world. Drug dealers use powdered baby formula to cut the strength of cocaine and heroin. According to a recent article in Chicago's Journal Standard, "the popular powdered baby formula is primarily used in the drug world to dilute heroin and methamphetamine or to stretch the product when supplies run low." Special Agent Joanna Zoltay states that, "The consistency and the way it looks is what makes it a good cutting agent," Zoltay said. Infant formula is non-toxic and relatively safe to cut with any number of drugs.
The DEA also had a case several years ago where street gangs in Chicago were using baby formula containers to conceal illegal drugs, she added.
It is amazing that something so important to the health and well-being of a child can be at the root of organized crime rings? The problem that we will face if infant formula continues to be taken at alarming rates is that the prices will surely go up.
Next time you are in your grocery store, or even your local Target, look around, is the formula under lock and key just like that carton of cigarettes? Chances are if it isn't under lock and key now, it will be.
Published by Robin Neorr
I'm a tree hugging stay at home mom with an extensive career in Advertising and Marketing that is on hiatus while I enjoy raising my two children. View profile
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16 Comments
Post a CommentI hope there's a good charity for this sort of thing I can donate to so these women don't foot the businesses and drug dealer's war bill with their starved children. THERE IS WIC AND IT IS A GREAT PROGRAM.
When I worked in a CVS in 1999 in a very affluent community baby formula was being stolen, and as a I moved from store to store over the past 10 years baby formula is being stolen. Over these ten years I have never once caught or suspected a "mom or dad" stealing a can of baby formula. They for the most part have WIC. Usually, it is middle aged adults who look desperate for drug money. They thieves come in all shades of color and races and are disgusting individuals. When you catch them they scare the hell out of you and some liberal judge never holds them accountable. If someone robbed a store for $1,000 people would take notice, and yet these scumbags go from CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, RiteAid, and all the grocery stores and steal four or five cans a visit and the retailers are called greedy. This is a serious problem and it is the store manager who gets the shaft in the end when it comes to inventory time or when they have to look at the mom or dad who needs the formula and the
I breastfeed, so I don't have to worry about businesses' war with thieving drug addict assholes... life is good for me and my babies, but for other women that are both lower-income and can't breastfeed... well, it's sucks to be them. I hope there's a good charity for this sort of thing I can donate to so these women don't foot the businesses and drug dealer's war bill with their starved children.
Seriously - locking up 'high theft' items is good business sense. If people are stealing cold medicine to dose themselves, does that mean that locking it up is causing people to be sick?
No, it is preventing THEFT. CVS protecting their goods is not "causing little ones to go hungry". People having kids they can't afford to feed is what is doing that. That is THEIR doing and responsibility and none of CVS's.
"If people are stealing it to feed their babies, then locking it up is causing some little ones to go hungry. So should we give CVC kudos for their brave safety measures? I don't think so."
So now CVS is responsible for feeeding people's kids? To the point that it should required to make it EASIER to steal merchandise?!!?!? Are you kidding? CVS is a BUISINE, a corporation in the line of making money. It is not a soup kitchen. Add a Comment
"If people are stealing it to feed their babies, then locking it up is causing some little ones to go hungry. So should we give CVC kudos for their brave safety measures? I don't think so."
So now CVS is responsible for feeeding people's kids? To the point that it should required to make it EASIER to steal merchandise?!!?!? Are you kidding. CVS is a BUISINE, a corporation in the line of making money. It is not a soup kitchen.
Breast milk is free.
For those who believe a drug user would actually buy the formula must need their head examined. In order for most to get the drugs, they steal to sell and make their purchase of their drug of choice. No drug dealer is going to come in and purchase cans of formula to cut their drug - when they can have a user steal it for them in exchange.
As for the comment of it being better if it were for someone who was feeding it to their kids - it is still theft. If you want to continue to pay higher prices for the rest of your goods, then I guess breaking the law and stealing it is o.k. The government does give out WIC vouchers so this does not need to happen. So the thought of this much in theft is attributed to "need" is WAY off base.
I wouldn't have guessed.
I can't believe it, that is ridiculous. I don't want to get on the box about this but those who use it to cut drugs will buy it if they need it, so locking it up for that reason is dumb. If people are stealing it to feed their babies, then locking it up is causing some little ones to go hungry. So should we give CVC kudos for their brave safety measures? I don't think so.