Chedraui USA Inc., the parent company of El Super and Smart & Final grocery chains, has agreed to pay a $472,369 penalty to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for violations of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). The EPA found that the company was selling unregistered disinfectant products with unverified claims about their effectiveness against microorganisms.
The violations were first discovered during 2021 inspections at El Super and Smart & Final stores in California. Subsequent investigations revealed that the unregistered disinfectants were also sold in stores throughout Nevada, California, and Arizona. Some of these products contained quaternary ammonia, which can be hazardous and requires specific labeling to warn consumers about potential dangers. Other products made unverified claims regarding their ability to kill germs.
Amy Miller, director of the EPA’s Pacific Southwest region enforcement and compliance assurance division, emphasized that companies are responsible for ensuring the safety of their customers by only selling EPA-registered disinfectants.
Chedraui USA stated that during the pandemic, it sourced disinfectants from new vendors to meet increased demand, and some products were later found to be mislabeled. The company said it removed these products from shelves as soon as it was notified and remains committed to regulatory compliance and product safety.
The EPA confirmed that the unregistered disinfectant products are no longer being sold at any El Super or Smart & Final locations. Chedraui USA operates multiple stores in the Las Vegas Valley and other western states.