Walmart Fruit Cocktail Recall: 44,000 Cans Flagged for Lead

If you keep a few cans of fruit cocktail on hand for quick snacks or lunchbox treats, it is worth taking a closer look at your pantry this week. More than 44,000 cans of Walmart’s Great Value fruit cocktail have been pulled because the fruit may contain elevated levels of lead.

The good news is that the Walmart fruit cocktail recall covers just one product and a single production lot. Still, the cans reached stores in seven states, and they carry a best-by date that runs well into 2027. As a result, many households could still have them sitting on a shelf at home.

Here is everything you need to know, from the exact codes to check to what you should do next.

What Product Is Being Recalled?

Pacific Coast Producers, a canned fruit and tomato supplier based in Lodi, California, started the voluntary recall on October 1, 2026. The company is pulling 1,836 cases of Great Value Fruit Cocktail in Fruit Juice from Concentrate. Since each case holds 24 cans, the total comes to 44,064 cans.

Almost three weeks later, on October 20, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) listed the recall in its weekly enforcement report. That listing is how most shoppers first heard about it, because there was little public notice when the recall began.

To find out whether your can is affected, compare it with the details below. All three codes need to match.

Product	Can Size	UPC	Lot Code	Best If Used By
Great Value Fruit Cocktail in Fruit Juice from Concentrate	15 oz (425 g)	078742369570	6FCB 04 C2263	SEP 01 2027

Walmart Fruit Cocktail Recall at a Glance

For a quick summary, here are the key facts in one place.

Detail	Information
Brand	Great Value (Walmart store brand)
Manufacturer	Pacific Coast Producers, Lodi, California
Reason for recall	Potential contamination with elevated levels of lead
Cases recalled	1,836 (24 cans per case)
Total cans recalled	44,064
Recall start date	October 1, 2026
FDA classification	Class II, assigned October 20, 2026
States affected	Alabama, Arizona, Louisiana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Washington, Wyoming
Other Great Value products included	None

Which States Received the Recalled Cans?

The affected fruit cocktail went to Walmart stores in seven states:

Alabama
Arizona
Louisiana
New Mexico
Pennsylvania
Washington
Wyoming

If you shop at Walmart outside these states, this lot was not shipped to your local store. For example, shoppers in Texas and Michigan are not affected.

Because the recall began on October 1, the cans have most likely been cleared from store shelves by now. However, canned fruit lasts a long time. So, if you bought fruit cocktail at a Walmart in one of these states in recent months, it is smart to check before you open it.

How to Check the Cans in Your Pantry

Checking your fruit cocktail only takes a minute. First, find the UPC printed under the barcode on the label. Next, look at the top or bottom of the can, where the lot code and best-by date are usually stamped.

Your can is part of the recall only if it matches all of these:

UPC: 078742369570
Lot code: 6FCB 04 C2263
Best if used by: SEP 01 2027

In contrast, cans with a different lot code or date are not included. Likewise, other Great Value canned fruits, such as peaches or mandarin oranges, are not part of this recall.

What Does a Class II Recall Mean?

The FDA sorts recalls into three classes based on risk. Class I is the most serious and applies when a product could cause severe illness or death. Class III, on the other hand, covers products that are unlikely to cause any health problem.

This recall sits in the middle. A Class II rating means eating the product could cause temporary or medically reversible health effects. At the same time, the chance of serious harm is considered remote. In other words, there is no reason to panic, but there is also no reason to keep eating the fruit.

Why Lead in Food Is a Concern

Lead is a heavy metal that builds up in the body over time. For that reason, health experts focus on repeated exposure rather than a single bite. One serving is unlikely to cause sudden symptoms. Even so, small amounts eaten again and again can add up.

Children face the greatest risk. In fact, there is no known safe blood lead level for kids. Long-term exposure has been linked to problems with learning, attention, behavior and brain development. Pregnant people should also be careful, since lead can pass to a developing baby.

Adults are not completely in the clear, either. Over time, lead exposure may affect blood pressure, kidney function and mood. Fruit cocktail is a popular snack for children, which makes this recall especially important for parents.

If your child has eaten the recalled fruit cocktail regularly and you are worried, talk to your pediatrician. A simple blood test can show whether lead levels are elevated.

What to Do If You Have the Recalled Fruit Cocktail

First and foremost, do not eat it. Instead, take one of these steps:

Return it. Bring the can back to any Walmart store for a possible refund.
Throw it away. If returning it is not convenient, discard the can so no one in your home eats it by mistake.
Ask questions. For more details, contact your local Walmart or call the FDA at 1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332).

Also, if you have already moved the fruit into a container or used it in a recipe, it is safest to throw that food out as well.

Not the First Canned Fruit Recall Linked to Lead

This is not the first time lead has prompted a canned fruit recall at Walmart. In 2025, Pacific Coast Producers recalled roughly 62,340 cans of fruit over the same concern. That earlier recall included Great Value Pear Halves along with several Wegmans canned fruits, including a Wegmans fruit cocktail. Those products were sold across 27 states.

Because older headlines still circulate online, it is easy to mix up the two recalls. To avoid confusion, always go by the UPC, lot code and best-by date printed on your can.

The Walmart fruit cocktail recall affects 44,064 cans of Great Value Fruit Cocktail in Fruit Juice from Concentrate sold in seven states. Although the FDA considers the health risk low, lead is a metal worth avoiding, especially for young children. Take a minute to check your pantry, and return or toss any can that matches the recalled codes.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which Walmart fruit cocktail is being recalled?

The recall covers Great Value Fruit Cocktail in Fruit Juice from Concentrate in 15-ounce cans. The affected cans carry UPC 078742369570, lot code 6FCB 04 C2263 and a best-by date of SEP 01 2027.