Is CVS contact solution really Renu?

April 22, 2006 5:17 PM

Is CVS No Rub Multi-purpose solution really RENU, labeled under CVS pharmacy?

I use this solution daily, but I am worried that CVS might have privately labeled from RENU, and it could be the same stuff in a different bottle. I feel like I might not get a straight answer from CVS because they may not want to lose money. I have asked around, but i figured i'd ask here. thanks

it is not the special Moisture-Loc solution that has been causing the fungus, but I am still concerned.

posted by Andrea2880 to Health & Fitness (9 answers total)

Most name-brand contact solutions have a note on the packaging saying something like "this proprietary formula is not sold under any other name." I think I've seen Renu that says that, but I'm not 100% sure.
posted by rxrfrx at 5:20 PM on April 22, 2006

My husband works for CVS, in their private label dept. I will find out from him as soon as he gets home. Many of the products they sell are the actual brand, but many are made by other sources, (though identical to the brand). If it is the same, I imagine that CVS will pull it ASAP. They would rather lose the money than have negative press. My husband was on vacation this week, so this issue may have already come up while he was away. I'll get back to you.
posted by Biblio at 5:54 PM on April 22, 2006

In general, when does the FDA require the disclosure of such information? I notice that the FDA's alerts (the most recent actions are at the "Recalls, Product Safety" link on their main page) might sometimes do this (see, for example, this alert and the third item on this enforcement report); it's obviously an important piece of information. The one concerning the Bausch and Lomb recall does not disclose any information about branding (though it does state that it appears as at least one "generic brand").
posted by yz at 6:59 PM on April 22, 2006

OK, the solution CVS makes is comparable to RENU, though not chemically identical. It is not made by Bausch and Lomb. There is NOT a CVS version of the RENU that is causing all of the trouble. So you're safe!
posted by Biblio at 7:23 PM on April 22, 2006

I was kind of wondering the same thing about Target brand solution, actually...
posted by gimonca at 9:53 PM on April 22, 2006

Seems to me that it would be pretty irresponsible as well as criminally negligent for Bauch and Lomb to tell everyone to stop using their name brand and neglect to mention that they also private label certain brands. I doubt very much the Target brand is made by them.
posted by any major dude at 8:22 AM on April 23, 2006

The world of private label marketing and merchandising is a fascinating one. I love talking to my husband about his job. Before he was in this line of work I assumed that store brands were like those Louis Vuitton handbags sold on the streets of Manhattan, cheap knockoffs to hoodwink undiscriminating customers. Totally not the case, at least at CVS.

At any rate, B and L doesn't seem to make anybody's PL. They are very protective of their proprietary formula.
posted by Biblio at 10:19 AM on April 23, 2006

The one concerning the Bausch and Lomb recall does not disclose any information about branding (though it does state that it appears as at least one "generic brand").

Seems to me that it would be pretty irresponsible as well as criminally negligent for Bauch and Lomb to tell everyone to stop using their name brand and neglect to mention that they also private label certain brands.

True, but I hadn't seen B&L's own release, any info I had so far had been filtered through little media soundbites, and yz's post implied that the FDA releases still left something to be desired.

Thanks, Biblio.
posted by gimonca at 11:07 AM on April 23, 2006

Bausch and Lomb themselves have the answer in their FAQ (PDF) page on the matter. Specifcally, the last question is

"Is ReNu with MoistureLoc sold as a private label or store brand? No. ReNu with MoistureLoc is not sold to any retailer as a private label or store brand."

Also on B&L's front page are links to other information about the matter, including how to get a coupon/refund (two per household).
posted by fief at 7:04 AM on April 24, 2006