Walmart Fruit Cocktail Recall Escalated Due to Lead Contamination Concerns
The FDA classified the recall of Great Value fruit cocktail as Class II, indicating potential for temporary adverse health consequences.
A recall for Walmart's Great Value Fruit Cocktail in Fruit Juice from Concentrate has been classified as Class II by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), signaling a risk of potential temporary adverse health consequences. This classification, the second-highest risk category, comes after tests revealed elevated levels of lead in the product.
The recall affects over 44,000 cans of the fruit cocktail, sold in 15oz containers with a best-before date of September 2027. The affected product was distributed in Alabama, Arizona, Louisiana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Wyoming. The specific lot number associated with the recall is 6FCB 04 C2263, which can be found near the barcode.
Lead is a toxic heavy metal for which health officials state there is no known safe level of exposure. Chronic exposure in children can lead to learning disabilities, behavioral issues, and lower IQ. In adults, lead exposure has been linked to kidney damage, neurological problems, and high blood pressure. While a single exposure may not cause symptoms, repeated exposure over time increases the risk of complications.
Pacific Coast Producers, an agricultural company based in California, supplied the fruit cocktail to Walmart. The source of lead contamination in fruit products has previously been traced to orchard soil containing lead from decades-old pesticide use, which trees can absorb. Imported juice concentrates have also been identified as a potential source, as their blending and boiling processes can concentrate any lead present.
This is not the first time Pacific Coast Producers has faced a recall for lead contamination. In October of the previous year, more than 62,000 cans of their fruit cocktail, containing diced peaches, pears, grapes, pineapple, cherries, and pear juice concentrate, were recalled due to elevated lead levels. Those cans were sold at Walmart and Wegmans stores across 27 states.
Consumers are generally advised not to consume products identified in recalls for lead contamination, to discard them immediately, and to contact the seller for a full refund.