Walmart shoppers in seven states have a new pantry item to check. Pacific Coast Producers has recalled 44,064 cans of Great Value Fruit Cocktail in Fruit Juice from Concentrate over possible elevated lead levels. The FDA classified the action October 20, after the manufacturer began its recall October 1.
Unlike a refrigerated item that may be eaten quickly, canned fruit can sit in a cupboard for months. This latest warning joins other major grocery food recalls involving everyday products, but only one specific Great Value fruit cocktail lot is listed.
The exact can and codes to check
The affected fruit is sold in 15-ounce (425-gram) cans labeled Great Value Fruit Cocktail in Fruit Juice from Concentrate. The brand name alone isn’t enough to identify it. Shoppers should compare the package to all three pieces of information.
The UPC is 078742369570, the lot code is 6FCB 04 C2263, and the best-if-used-by date reads SEP 01 2027. The lot code and date are especially important, because a UPC identifies a product type rather than a particular batch.
The recall covers 1,836 cases containing 24 cans each, totaling 44,064 cans. It does not amount to a blanket recall of every Great Value canned fruit product, and other lots have not been identified in this action.
These seven states received the recalled fruit
The FDA lists distribution in Alabama, Arizona, Louisiana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Washington and Wyoming. Those are the states where affected cases were shipped; the announcement does not establish that every Walmart store in those states stocked the recalled lot.
Walmart is the name on the Great Value label, but the recalling business is Pacific Coast Producers, a California-based food manufacturer. The company initiated the voluntary recall on October 1; its classification by the FDA followed on October 20.
What the lead concern means
The stated reason for the recall is potential contamination with elevated lead levels. The FDA classifies it as Class II, a category used when exposure may cause temporary or medically reversible health consequences, or when the chance of serious harm is considered remote.
Lead is toxic, particularly for young children whose brains are still developing. The FDA says there is no known safe level of exposure. The possible effects depend on how much is consumed, how often and a person’s age and other exposures.
What to do with a matching can
Do not eat the recalled fruit or serve it to anyone else. The FDA advises following recall instructions and says recalled food can often be returned to the store for a refund. If discarding it, wrap the product securely before throwing it away.
Anyone concerned that they or a child may have eaten the affected fruit can contact a health care professional for advice. Checking the can now, rather than waiting until it is opened, is the simplest way to avoid the problem.
The specific product, lot code, expiration information and distribution states appear in the FDA’s enforcement record. Consumers should use those identifying details instead of assuming all Great Value fruit cocktail cans are affected.
Links on this page may be affiliate links, for which the site earns a small commission, but the price for you is the same
Leave a Comment