Most Shoplifted Items? Infant formula now under Lock and Key

A Rash of Infant Formula Thefts Have Grocers Locking Up Infant Formula

You go into a grocery store and you see two things locked up in glass cabinets, cigarettes, and infant formula. The cigarettes are required by law to be secured under lock and key, but why are more and more grocers in America 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.