The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reached a settlement with Chedraui USA, Inc., which operates the El Super and Smart & Final grocery chains, over the distribution of unregistered disinfectants in stores across Arizona, California, and Nevada.

The settlement resolves violations of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Under the agreement, Chedraui will pay a $472,369 penalty, and the products in question have been removed from store shelves.

According to EPA findings, inspections conducted in 2021 by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation and the EPA uncovered unregistered disinfectants being sold at El Super in Santa Ana, California, and Smart & Final in Hayward, California. The products carried labels claiming effectiveness against microorganisms without EPA verification.

At the Santa Ana El Super location, EPA identified multiple disinfectants = including “S&C Sanitizer,” “S&C Disinfectant,” and “Prinex Sanysol” - that were not registered with the agency. Two of those products contained quaternary ammonia, a highly toxic substance that requires a “danger” label. EPA determined El Super distributed these products at least 61 times across the three states.

At Smart & Final, inspectors found “Perfect Professional Advanced Multi-Surface Sanitizer,” another unregistered disinfectant with unsupported claims about germ-killing effectiveness. EPA documented at least 53 distributions of that product.

EPA officials emphasized that disinfectants sold in the U.S. must be registered so their ingredients, safety, and effectiveness can be reviewed. Products that skip that process may be ineffective - or expose consumers to unnecessary health risks.

Chedraui and Smart & Final have confirmed the products are no longer being distributed or sold.