Content about Massachusetts

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark on Tuesday announced that a month-long, in-store fundraising campaign at CVS/pharmacy locations throughout the Boston area raised more than $650,000 in donations from customers to The One Fund Boston, which was established by Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino to raise money for victims and families who were affected by the attack on the Boston Marathon.

WASHINGTON — One of the difficulties that federal regulators ran into during the nationwide scandal surrounding the New England Compounding Center — the Massachusetts-based pharmacy blamed for a nationwide fungal meningitis epidemic that has sickened hundreds and killed dozens — was the issue of when such pharmacies cross the line from compounding to manufacturing.

QUINCY, Mass. — Ahold USA and its Stop & Shop banner have donated half a million dollars to a charitable organization set up to aid victims of the recent terrorist attacks in Boston.

The company announced the donation of $500,000 to The One Fund Boston, formed by Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino.

"Words cannot express the tragedy that took place at the Boston Marathon," Stop & Shop New England Division president Joe Kelley said. "We mourn with all of of those who were affected."

WASHINGTON — Food and Drug Administration commissioner Margaret Hamburg faced strong criticism Tuesday in a hearing before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce to investigate the nationwide outbreak of fungal meningitis linked to a Massachusetts compounding pharmacy, but she conceded the agency could have done more.

QUINCY, Mass. — Stop & Shop is reaffirming its goal to reduce its effects on the environment, particularly in Massachusetts, the company said.

The Ahold USA banner, which operates 131 stores in the state, said it renewed its partnership with the Environmental League of Massachusetts as a member of the ELM Corporate Council and reiterated its commitment to help further the goals of a state law to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2020 and 85% by 2050. In 2008, the chain announced plans to reduce its carbon footprint by 20% by 2015.

BOSTON — The Boston Licensing Board will decide whether Walgreens' flagship store at School and Washington streets, expected to open its doors in April, can sell fresh merchandise like sushi, smoothies and coffee around the clock, according to a report published Wednesday by Universal HUB. 

WABAN, Mass. — Based on a study of 10,000 U.S. consumers, Sam's Club and Amazon earned the top spots in the retail sector of the "2013 Temkin Experience Ratings," the Temkin Group announced Tuesday. 

Six additional retailers were in the top 20 overall, including Costco, which was tied for the No. 13 spot with Nordstrom. Four retailers tied for the No. 20 spot, including BJs Wholesale, Dollar Tree, PetSmart and Walgreens. Thirty-six out of the 44 retailers in the study earned a "good" or "excellent" rating.

HYANNIS, Mass. — Snack maker Snyder Lance has introduced a new Cape Cod brand potato chip flavor to its reduced-fat line of chips: 40% Less Fat Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper.

Cape Cod's 40% Less Fat Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper chips are made with real sea salt and a blend of peppercorns, including a slightly sweet white pepper.

The energy drink category, which has enjoyed double-digit sales and unit growth for several years, faces increasing scrutiny from the Food and Drug Administration.

The FDA has said it will consider requiring companies to disclose the amount of caffeine in the drinks and add warnings about possible side effects on labeling.

NORWELL, Mass. — Carex Health Brands on Thursday unveiled a revamped website featuring both a consumer-centric and a business-to-business version.

“We feel this new website design reflects who we are as a company and better serves both our consumer-facing and B-to-B customers," stated Jeff Swain, VP marketing, Carex Health Brands. "Every day at Carex we seek to improve the quality of life of our consumers and to better serve our resellers. This web site is a giant leap forward toward accomplishing those goals.” 

WASHINGTON — Massachusetts and New Jersey lately have been cracking down on sterile compounding pharmacies alleged to violate safety regulations, but the crackdown may soon go nationwide, predicted a legal firm focused on the matter.

LeClairRyan attorney Michael Ruggio said officials in several states were increasing scrutiny of compounding pharmacies in the wake of an outbreak of fungal meningitis linked to the New England Compounding Center, which so far sickened 696 people and killed 45, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.