13 Foods to Never Buy at Walmart
When you shop at Walmart, do you get what you pay for? Walmart has long been known for its unbeatable low prices and convenience, and it is America’s retail giant for everything: bedding, fruits, electronics, etc. But does Walmart live up to expectations regarding food quality, nutrition, and value?
You may be surprised at the answer. However, some of Walmart’s foods have developed a reputation for low quality, additives, and a lack of freshness.
The latest report on U.S. Today lists Walmart among the most popular grocery stores in the U.S. that had their products recalled. The affected products include pre-cooked meat, chicken products, etc. A consumer advocacy group, FoodPrint, urges, “Mass-produced and ultra-cheap foods often raise concerns about nutritional value, sourcing, and sustainability.”
Below is a carefully curated list containing 13 food items you’d be better off avoiding based on data, expert opinions, and even customer reviews to help you make smarter choices.
Meat and Poultry
Walmart-brand meat, particularly its “Great Value” line, has garnered negative feedback. For example, customers typically complain that the meat given to them is spoiled before it expires or that the chicken is rubbery. The quality concerns have also been evident in a 2020 recall of millions of pounds of Walmart ground beef due to bacterial contamination.
So, instead, grab your meat from a local butcher or a trusted grocer like Costco or Aldi, where you can find higher-quality grass-fed options.
Seafood
Love seafood, right? You better think twice before buying overstocked salmon or shrimp at Walmart. Most of the store’s seafood offerings (predominantly farmed) get bad reviews.
Farm-raised products rather than wild-caught ones impact many products’ flavor and nutritional value. Customer complaints about “fishy odors” and poorly packaged products are common. Greenpeace has also highlighted Walmart’s seafood sourcing as being universal.
If you’re looking for sustainable, fresh seafood that is good for your health and the environment, look to a local store like Costco or Kroger.
Pre-Packaged Deli Items
Quality complaints have plagued Walmart’s meat products. Many shoppers complain that food spoils before the expiration date, has odd textures, and occasionally has an off-putting odor. Now, that’s not the kind of protein boost anyone wants.
There are concerns over freshness, and it’s not always clear where your food comes from. For example, you can see that polls on Reddit often bring to light that Walmart meat is ‘notorious for bad quality.’
If you want something juicer and tastier, turn to butcher shops or Costco for fresher, higher-quality options. Though you’ll probably spend a little bit more, it’s worth it for the peace of mind.
Peanut Butter
Affordable? Yes. Quality? Not so much. Walmart’s peanut butter may have some unappetizing extras. Unfortunately, it’s formulated with hydrogenated oils and monoglycerides, processed additives known to cause poor heart health. It’s also been described as texting stiffly and even tasted lower than Jif or Skippy.
Most nutritionists advise avoiding additives like hydrogenated oils, dextrose, and molasses, which peanut butter contains. The reasons why some shoppers avoid it, however, include a stiff texture and odd smell.
You can use natural peanut butter brands with no added sugars or oils, like Smucker’s Natural or Trader Joe’s, for an even better spread for either situation.
Fresh Produce
When was the last time you picked a perfectly fresh carrot at Walmart? Walmart’s produce department has a reputation for selling produce of poor quality. Complaints included bruised fruits and wilting vegetables, and Consumer Reports ranked Walmart as one of the worst grocery stores for produce.
Walmart’s produce takes a beating in a 2023 study by The Daily Meal’s shoppers, who named it subpar nearly one-third of the time.
If you want to buy fresher, higher-quality fruits and vegetables, head to a local farmers’ market or stores like Whole Foods, where organic produce is often cheaper or at the same price as Walmart.
Packaged Noodle Kits
For many of us, Maruchan ramen and other college-living favorites comprise pantry staples. However, salt lovers, beware! A portion of ramen from Walmart can contain as much as 1,580mg of sodium, about 66 percent of your recommended daily allowance.
Based on an article by Julie Corliss, Executive Editor of Harvard Heart Letter, eating so much sodium can cause high blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems.
Looking for lower-sodium or whole-grain noodle options at health-focused stores, such as Sprouts or Whole Foods, is also a good idea if convenience is a priority for you.
Canned Fruits
Mandarin oranges in syrup are among those canned fruits found in the Walmart aisles that alarmingly contain lots of added sugar. These oranges pack up to 180 grams of sugar in just a single can, much more than what is consumed healthily.
Instead, check at stores such as Aldi or go for fresh fruit. If you must have canned fruit, choose fruits in water or 100 % fruit juice, not added sugar.
Cereal
If you’re tempted to save money, you might go for Walmart’s cereal. However, customer reviews suggest that you may have to sacrifice taste. These breakfast staples are often described in words like “cardboard.”
It starts as a less-than-ideal morning when artificial flavors combine with excess sugar. Stick with strong brands from Walmart or Costco, where bulk goods are good quality but affordable.
Organic Milk
While Walmart offers organic milk, online reviews often describe it as lacking in taste and authenticity compared to competitors. Despite comparable prices to other brands, the quality and consistency reportedly fail to meet expectations.
If you’re concerned about quality, go for an organic milk brand like Horizon or Organic Valley.
Maple Syrup
Pancakes and waffles get a natural sweetness upgrade from pure, Grade A maple syrup. However, Walmart’s options are often filled with fillers, such as high-fructose corn syrup, and the alternatives are frequently cheaper at locations outside of Walmart.
Walmart’s syrup offers limited pure options and lower antioxidant amounts. You can often find Costco or Aldi offering much better at $8 per 12.5-ounce syrup bottle.
Guacamole
Walmart’s prepackaged guacamole is often what it’s not: fresh and flavorful. Sadly, customers frequently complain that the products are bland, have poor texture, or don’t last long enough.
Since you’ve worked to get here, for the sake of better guac (or to avoid the worry of overfed people like me), make your own with fresh ingredients, or if you can, splurge on the deli-style guac at places like Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s.
Breakfast Sandwiches
Frozen breakfast sandwiches sold by Walmart have been criticized for their poor taste and excessive use of preservatives. Usually, it is not at the same quality and freshness as you would hope for your quick breakfast option.
Breakfast sandwiches are easy to make at home as long as you can get out of bed a little earlier. If this isn’t you, look for healthier frozen options like Amy’s or Evol.
Tropickles
Customers commonly ridicule Walmart’s branded Tropickles due to their unusual flavor and niche market. These shiny, fruit punch-flavored pickles, defying traditional pickling logic, mix sweet and savory in some way that many consumers don’t find palatable.
But the artificially sweet taste is jarring for those used to classic pickle flavors; the jolt from the vinegar-brined cucumbers to the punch-packed sugar also often makes the whole experience less than ideal.
Tropickles are also a niche product that lacks high brand recognition. Therefore, they may be ‘left to sit,’ meaning they would no longer be fresh products. Shoppers searching for taste, value, or quality get similar critiques for Tropickles.
Shop Smarter, Eat Better
While Walmart offers affordability and convenience, focusing on quality before cost when buying food is essential. To help you make better choices regarding food quality, you have to go for quality alternatives from the local market, specialty stores, or even reputable grocers.
When shopping at Walmart, always check the ingredients and read reviews to make more informed purchases. When in doubt, face other retailers for fresher, healthier alternatives.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information
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