SAN DIEGO -- Expired products were found for sale at 77 percent of CVS/pharmacy stores surveyed in the San Diego area recently by a consumer advocacy group, it announced Wednesday.

The expired goods included infant formula, dairy products and medications, according to the group Cure CVS, which conducted its survey of products for sale at the drugstore chain last month.

In a statement, CVS called the report "misleading" because it was spearheaded by a group engaged in a union dispute with the chain and said the "health and safety of our customers is our top priority."

"We have a clear product removal policy in place at all of our stores to help ensure that items are removed from our shelves before they reach their expiration date," the statement reads.

"While no process this labor-intensive is immune from error -- a typical CVS/pharmacy has more than 100,000 items on its shelves -- we strive to achieve 100 percent compliance and move quickly to rectify any unintentional deviation from our policies and procedures."

The exact number of stores surveyed wasn't disclosed.

The consumer advocacy group says it uncovered a similar problem with expired products at CVS stores in Philadelphia and Houston.