Wegmans Food Markets became the latest regional supermarket chain to offer shoppers free antibiotics this winter.
Shoppers can get can an up-to-14-day supply of generic oral antibiotics, such as amoxicillin and penicillin, until March 31, the company announced this week.
Giant began offering free antibiotics this month, and Midwest chain Meijer and Southern chain Publix have been offering the program since at least last fall.
Wegmans officials pointed to growing economic pressures and rising health-care costs as the reason for the antibiotic program.
Public health advocates have lauded the free antibiotics, but some health officials have raised concerns, saying the programs may increase the amount of antibiotics prescribed, which could lead to more drug resistance.
Wegmans, which is located in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia and Maryland, has a store in Hunt Valley and plans to build in Columbia, Crofton, Frederick and Landover.
