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Eye drops recalled for Walgreens brands. What you should check. USA TODAY NETWORK Updated Oct. 3, 2026, 1:27 p.m. ET * Nearly 748,000 units of over-the-counter eye care products have been recalled nationwide due to sterility concerns. * The FDA has classified this as a Class II recall, meaning the health risk is considered temporary or remote. * Consumers should check the lot numbers and expiration dates of their products and stop using any that are part of the recall. Florida consumers who use Walgreens-branded eye drops and several other over-the-counter eye care products may want to check their medicine cabinets after federal regulators announced a recall involving nearly 748,000 units nationwide. The recall affects nine eye care products sold under multiple brand names, according to a community announcement and federal recall records. Sterling Pharmaceutical Services LLC of Dupo, Illinois, began the recall on Aug. 20 after concerns about a lack of assurance that the products are sterile. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration later designated the action as a Class II recall on Sept. 21, meaning use of the products could cause temporary or medically reversible health consequences, while the chance of serious health effects is considered remote. Among the affected products are Walgreens lubricant eye drops, one of the largest portions of the recall, along with products sold under the AvKare, Reliable-1 Laboratories, Cameron Pharmaceuticals, TRP The Relief Products and Major brand names. Which eye drops are included in the recall? The recall involves 747,844 units across nine products: * Cameron Pharmaceuticals Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium 0.5% Eye Lubricant, 0.5 fl oz (15 mL): 19,284 bottles * AvKare Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium Ophthalmic Solution 0.5%, Lubricant Eye Drops, 0.5 fluid ounces (15 mL): 12,864 packs * AvKare Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium Ophthalmic Solution 0.5%, Lubricant Eye Drops, two-count twin packs: 107,377 packs * Reliable-1 Laboratories Sodium Chloride Hypertonicity Ophthalmic Solution, 5%, 0.5 fluid ounces (15 mL): 11,083 bottles * Reliable-1 Laboratories Lubricating Tears, 0.5 fluid ounces (15 mL): 47,616 bottles * Walgreens Lubricant Eye Drops, Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium 0.5%, 0.5 fluid ounces (15 mL): 301,114 bottles * Walgreens Lubricant Eye Drops, two-count twin packs: 199,600 packs * TRP The Relief Products Gentle Eyes Lubricant Eye Drops, Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium 0.5%: 14,538 bottles * Major LubriFresh P.M. Nighttime Ointment, 0.125 ounces (3.5 g) tubes: 34,368 tubes What the FDA classification means. The FDA classified the action as a Class II recall. Under the agency's definition, a Class II recall involves products that could cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health effects, or situations in which the likelihood of serious health consequences is remote. The recall stems from concerns that the affected products may not be sterile. USA TODAY contacted Sterling Pharmaceutical Services for comment on Oct. 2 but had not received a response. What Florida consumers should do. Consumers who use any of the affected products should check both the lot number and expiration date listed on the packaging. The FDA's enforcement report contains the specific lot numbers and expiration dates included in the recall. Consumers can compare their products with the federal listing at accessdata.fda.gov. If a product matches the recalled lot information, the FDA advises consumers to stop using it immediately and contact a health care provider. Additional eye drop safety information is available at fda.gov. The full recall database also can be found through the FDA's enforcement report and USA TODAY's recalls tracker at usatoday.com. This story was produced by John Gallas, [email protected]], with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the review, editing and publishing process. Learn more atcm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.

5TYNTK september 30 - school suspensions spike, Jetport cars burn, algae bloom dispersed, Saco Walgreens closing, shaving for cancer. 1. Spruce Mountain High School in Jay has already suspended 19 students just over a month into the school year. Six suspensions were for arguments and five for inappropriate language toward staff, while 45 other students have received detention. The principal says six students have also been disciplined for racial or sexual civil rights violations. (WGME) 2. Four rental cars caught fire at the Portland Jetport Tuesday morning. Two of the vehicles were destroyed in an overflow lot where rental cars are stored. No one was hurt, Jetport operations were not affected, and investigators say the fire is not considered suspicious. (WGME) 3. This weekend's nor'easter may have helped break up the algae bloom that's been impacting parts of Maine's coast. The Department of Marine Resources says big storms can disperse the bloom or push it offshore, but it'll take a few days to know the full impact. Officials say the algae does not threaten human health and Maine seafood remains safe to eat. (WGME) 4. Another Walgreens in Maine is closing, this time in Saco. The store will permanently close November 10th, with Saco's mayor calling it a blow to the community, especially vulnerable seniors. A recent CBS13 investigation found 45% of Mainers live in areas with limited access to pharmacy services. (WGME) 5. An Ogunquit business owner shaved his head Tuesday night to raise money for Maine kids battling cancer. Rick Dolliver has raised more than $230,000 through the event over the past two years, and this year he's aiming for $300,000 for the Maine Children's Cancer Program. Family, friends and customers also shaved their heads as part of the fundraiser. (NCM) Made Hot in Maine by the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein. Accidents happen... to be their specialty. 207-CALL-JOE or online at: joebornstein.com. Hot 104.7 Mornings 5am - 10am // #NewAt2Mix // Program Director // Avid New England Sports Fan // I Still Believe 2pac Is Alive

Walgreens cuts planned store closures. The drugstore chain now expects to close fewer than 100 U.S. stores this year. September 28, 2026. 10:42 AM DEERFIELD, Ill. - According to several published reports, Walgreens is significantly reducing the number of stores it plans to close following its acquisition by the private equity firm Sycamore Partners, marking a significant shift from the aggressive downsizing strategy announced before the deal was completed. The drugstore chain now expects to close fewer than 100 U.S. stores this year, according to media reports, a substantial reduction from earlier plans that envisioned hundreds of additional closures. Before its acquisition, Walgreens unveiled a turnaround plan that called for shuttering about 1,200 underperforming locations nationwide. The initiative aimed to improve profitability and streamline operations as the company faced mounting financial and competitive pressures. However, after Sycamore Partners completed its acquisition of Walgreens in August 2025, the investment firm reassessed the strategy and scaled back the closure plans. According to Inc. and other published reports, several hundred stores had already been closed, but the company no longer expects to proceed with the broader wave of shutdowns once anticipated. The revised outlook is significantly lower than projections that had suggested as many as 700 additional closures. Walgreens recently confirmed to USA Today that a number of locations have closed or are scheduled to close, including stores in Washington, D.C.; Illinois; Missouri; New Jersey; New York; South Carolina; Virginia; Washington state; and Wisconsin. The company is also closing a distribution center in Houston. Walgreens did not disclose how many stores it expects to open or close through the remainder of the year. The chain recently opened new stores in Hollywood, Florida and Hampton Bays, New York. At the time of the Sycamore acquisition, Walgreens operated roughly 8,500 stores across the United States. Today, the chain lists about 8,000 locations, reflecting the impact of its store rationalization efforts over the past two years. The decision to preserve more stores than originally planned signals a notable change in direction under Sycamore's ownership. The private equity firm has a history of investing in and restructuring retail companies, including Staples, Talbots and Nine West. The scaled-back closure strategy suggests Walgreens and its new owner see greater value in maintaining a larger brick-and-mortar footprint as they continue efforts to reposition the business and strengthen its long-term performance.