Safeway supermarkets have become the latest chain to jump on the bandwagon and to offer a 14-day supply of free generic antibiotics to customers through March 31, following the lead set by Giant and Wegmans.

Now, Consumer Reports' health blog warns that antibiotics should be used only when necessary. The planet already has a big problem with antibiotic resistance and the drugs aren't even effective on viral infections.

And remember, this is, like all promotions, an attempt to attract you to the store and spend money on something else. The director of CR's health ratings center writes that people could really benefit from free medication for high blood pressure, for example, but that's a chronic condition. Antibiotics are taken only for a short period of time.