Great Value fruit cocktail recall: 44,000 cans in seven states

Pacific Coast Producers has recalled about 44,000 cans of Walmart's own-label fruit cocktail in seven US states over potential contamination with elevated levels of lead, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Great Value fruit cocktail recall began on October 1 and has been classified by the agency as Class II.

The recall covers 1,836 cases of 24 cans, or 44,064 cans in total, according to the FDA enforcement report as cited by EatingWell and NTD. The recall was initiated voluntarily by the manufacturer, which is based in Lodi, California, NTD reported. Coverage of the Great Value fruit cocktail recall published on October 22 included no statement from Walmart or from Pacific Coast Producers.

What the Great Value fruit cocktail recall covers

A lot code, a UPC and a best-by date: the three numbers to check on the can.

The affected product is Great Value Fruit Cocktail in Fruit Juice from Concentrate in 15-ounce cans, according to the FDA listing. The cans carry lot code 6FCB 04 C2263, UPC 078742369570 and a best-if-used-by date of September 1, 2027, EatingWell and WBRZ reported.

The cans were distributed in Alabama, Arizona, Louisiana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Washington and Wyoming, according to the FDA report. Great Value is the own-label brand of Walmart, which is headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Under FDA definitions, a Class II recall applies to products whose use "may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences", with a remote probability of serious harm. The agency states that no level of lead exposure is considered safe, NTD reported. EatingWell noted that lead is of particular concern for children and pregnant women because it can affect brain development.

What consumers are advised to do

Consumers who have cans matching the lot code are advised not to eat the fruit cocktail and to throw it away or return it to a Walmart store, where a refund may be available, according to EatingWell. Questions can be directed to the FDA on 1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332).

The recall is the second lead-related action involving canned fruit from Pacific Coast Producers in about a year. FDA enforcement records show that in September 2025 the company recalled four canned products sold by Wegmans and Walmart, including Great Value pear halves and a Wegmans fruit cocktail, over potential lead contamination; that recall was also classified Class II and listed distribution in 27 states.

Lead is not the only contaminant behind recent food safety measures covered by AMUSE: in Italy, salmonella in cherry tomatoes led Puglia to halt raw tomato in school canteens.

FDA records list the 2025 recall as completed. The current recall stays open until the agency terminates it, a step published in its weekly enforcement report.