The Worst Foods to Buy at Walmart (2023)

It's no secret that Walmart is a true one-stop kind of store: you walk in and are able to walk out with everything you need. The grocery section is impressive, as you can easily find, you guessed it, whatever it is you're looking for.

And the store's own Great Value brand features a large variety of foods—from canned vegetables, frozen breakfast options, to plenty of sweet treats, you can easily stock up your refrigerator and pantries with their items.

But, which Great Value foods just aren't worth it? We rounded up the worst Great Value foods you just shouldn't buy. Then, don't miss26 Items Costco Is Discontinuing Right Now.

1

Great Value Peanut Butter

The Worst Foods to Buy at Walmart (1)

Peanut butter really only needs to have two things: peanuts and salt. And, we know, sometimes people need a little sweet stuff and a bit more oil to make it spreadable. What it doesn't need is the three different kinds of sugar that the Great Value brand adds in the form of regular old sugar, dextrose, and molasses. Additionally, this peanut butter contains hydrogenated cottonseed, rapeseed, and soybean oils. Seek out the Organic Great Value peanut butter which only two ingredients: organic dry roasted peanuts and salt.

Sign up for our newsletter!

2

Great Value Cinnamon Applesauce

The Worst Foods to Buy at Walmart (3)

Per 1 serving; 80 calories, 0 g fat (0 g saturated fat), 0 mg sodium, 19 g carbs (1 g fiber, 15 g sugar), 0 g protein

Applesauce is an easy way to get your fruit fix, and it's a pantry staple that will last for a while. And while there is no high fructose corn syrup here, there are still 15 grams of sugar per serving, including added sugar. Instead, go just for Great Value's Organic Unsweetened Applesauce as it doesn't contain any added sugar.

(Video) The Worst Foods You Could Ever Buy At Walmart

3

Great Value Thin Sliced Roast Beef

The Worst Foods to Buy at Walmart (4)

Per 2-ounce serving; 60 calories, 2 g fat (1 g saturated fat), 560 mg sodium, 0 g carbs (0 g fiber, 0 g sugar), 10 g protein

While this roast beef has no artificial flavors and no nitrates—which are good things!—what you want to be cautious of here is the sodium. One slice is already 560 milligrams and most likely if you're making a sandwich, you're piling on two, or three slices of the meat. Factoring in every other aspect of building a yummy sandwich, you may come close to hitting the maximum recommended 2,300 milligrams of sodium (per the most recent USDA dietary guidelines) in just one meal.

4

Great Value Loaded (Cheddar & Bacon) Twice Baked Potatoes

The Worst Foods to Buy at Walmart (5)

Per 1-piece serving; 290 calories, 13 g fat (7 g saturated fat), 500 mg sodium, 36 g carbs (5 g fiber, 2 g sugar), 9 g protein

Taking a glance at this nutrition breakdown, you're most likely thinking it's not that bad. But keep in mind, that's if you only eat half of a potato. That's not very much, and each serving packs 500 milligrams of sodium so if you eat two you're consuming 1,000 milligrams of sodium and 13 grams of saturated fat.

Don't miss 19 Best Low-Sodium Fast Food Orders, According to Dietitians!

5

Great Value Artisan Crafted Cheeseburger

The Worst Foods to Buy at Walmart (6)

Per 3.5-ounce serving, as prepared; 310 calories, 10 g fat (3 g saturated fat), 860 mg sodium, 45 g carbs (2 g fiber, 5 g sugar), 11 g protein

The four-cheese gourmet-inspired mac and cheese sounds delicious. But again, the sodium you're going to consume from this product is just too high, because you'll inevitably eat more than one serving. Note how each box contains four servings. A reasonable serving would be half the box prepared which would net you 1,720 milligrams of sodium!

6

(Video) 10 Walmart Foods You Should Absolutely Never Buy

Great Value Crème Filled Swiss Rolls Snack Cakes

The Worst Foods to Buy at Walmart (7)

Per 1 serving; 240 calories, 9 g fat (6 g saturated fat), 150 mg sodium, 39 g carbs (2 g fiber, 19 g sugar), 1 g protein

Having a sweet treat on hand in the kitchen is never a bad thing, but this dessert option is one you're going to want to leave on the shelf. While the serving size is two cakes—19 grams of added sugar is still high. It will be far too easy to eat this entire box by yourself in a short span of time so you're better off just skipping these.

Be sure to check out12 Frozen Breakfasts to Always Leave on Grocery Store Shelves for more packaged goods to steer clear of.

7

Great Value Magic Treasures Cereal

The Worst Foods to Buy at Walmart (8)

Per 1 serving; 160 calories, 1.5 g fat (0 g saturated fat), 280 mg sodium, 35 g carbs (2 g fiber, 17 g sugar), 3 g protein

The 17 grams of sugar alone should have you leaving this cereal in the store. And if that's not enough, the ingredients list is filled with those pesky food colorings, Yellow 5 and 6 and Blue 1, which have their own lists of possible scary side effects. A bowl of colorful cereal in the morning just isn't worth it right now!

RELATED: 8 Secrets Walmart Doesn't Want You to Know

8

Great Value Frosted Toaster Pastries, Cookies and Cream

The Worst Foods to Buy at Walmart (9)

Per 1 pastry: 200 calories, 5 g fat (2 g saturated fat), 240 mg sodium, 37 g carbs (1 g fiber, 17 g sugar), 3 g protein

When sugar and high fructose corn syrup are high up on the ingredients list, you know you're in trouble. These pastries cost you 200 calories a pop and nearly 20 grams of sugar to boot. Skip!

9

Great Value Four Cheese Complete Potatoes

The Worst Foods to Buy at Walmart (10)

Per serving; 110 calories, 2 g fat (2 g saturated fat), 570 mg sodium, 20 g carbs (1 g fiber, 1 g sugar), 2 g protein

(Video) Canned Food Review At Walmart - The Best & Worst Foods To Buy In A Can

Potatoes don't need to have that much sodium in them! Instead, boil some potatoes and mash them up yourself for a healthier option.

10

Great Value Lemonade

The Worst Foods to Buy at Walmart (11)

Per 1 serving; 100 calories, 0 g fat (0 g saturated fat), 35 mg sodium, 26 g carbs (0 g fiber, 24 g sugar), 0 g protein

One glass of Great Value lemonade is packing the same amount of added sugar you would find in one Hershey's chocolate bar. This is one drink you surely don't need to have stocked in your fridge. Plus it's got preservatives and gums that you don't really want to consume.

RELATED: This Walmart Secret Can Save You Money

11

Great Value Pretzel Bites Filled with Beer Cheese

The Worst Foods to Buy at Walmart (12)

Per 1 serving; 230 calories, 7 g fat (4 g saturated fat), 850 mg sodium, 31 g carbs (1 g fiber, 3 g sugar), 11 g protein

This may curb your craving for some classic bar food, but it's important to note that four pieces are one serving. So only four of these bites will set you back more than 200 calories and 850 milligrams of sodium. No thanks!

12

Great Value Sliced Strawberries with Sugar

The Worst Foods to Buy at Walmart (13)

Per 1/2 cup: 120 calories, 0 g fat (0 g saturated fat), 0 mg sodium, 29 g carbs (3 g fiber, 23 g sugar), 0 g protein

Fruit has naturally occurring sugars, so it's not a bad idea to munch on a few strawberries when you're in the mood for something sweet. But these strawberry slices are coming in with 17 grams of added sugar (of the 23 total grams). And that is thanks to the sugar they're swimming in. This fruit is already sweet enough on its own!

(Video) 15 Walmart Foods You Should Absolutely Never Buy

Don't missEating This Fruit Daily Slashes Your Risk of Heart Disease, New Study Finds.

13

Great Value Pink Snowballs Snack Cakes

The Worst Foods to Buy at Walmart (14)

Per 1 serving; 210 calories, 5 g fat (2.5 g saturated fat), 230 mg sodium, 38 g carbs (2 g fiber, 24 g sugar), 2 g protein

It's hard to really say what a pink snowball cake actually is, but just one of these is more than 200 calories and has 24 grams of sugar. Along with those 230 grams of sodium, this is one treat that isn't going to help you stay on track with your health goals.

14

Great Value Creamy Speculoos Cookie Butter

The Worst Foods to Buy at Walmart (15)

Per 1 serving; 210 calories, 14 g fat (4 g saturated fat), 95 mg sodium, 22 g carbs (0 g fiber, 13 g sugar), 1 g protein

While a cookie butter spread might sound like a nice change of pace, sticking with a classic nut butter is overall a healthier choice. Yes, peanut butter is good for you, as long as you're choosing the right one!

15

Great Value Fruit Cocktail

The Worst Foods to Buy at Walmart (16)

Per 1 serving; 100 calories, 0 g fat (0 g saturated fat), 0 mg sodium, 26 g carbs (1 g fiber, 18 g sugar), 0 g protein

If you're not able to find fresh fruit, you might think going the canned route is a solid idea. Well, this fruit cocktail comes in a heavy syrup, which just screams unnecessary sugars. Instead, stock up on some frozen fruits.

A previous version of this article was originally published on May 4, 2020.

(Video) The Best and Worst Canned Foods To Buy At Walmart

FAQs

What foods are not good to buy at Walmart? ›

See what they are, and why you should take an extra trip to a different store!
  • Organic Produce. Believe it or not, Walmart is actually one of the most expensive places to get your organic fruits and veggies. ...
  • Maple Syrup. There's just nothing quite like real maple syrup. ...
  • Organic Milk. ...
  • Shrimp. ...
  • Ground Beef.

Is Walmart meat good quality? ›

Unfortunately, Walmart isn't known for having the highest quality of meat (via Mashed). In 2015, the multinational retail corporation ranked 67 out of 68 by Consumer Reports for quality and freshness. Walmart has also had several recalls on their beef over the years for safety reasons in 2016, 2018, and 2022.

What is the problem with Walmart? ›

Some Walmart critics say the stores are understaffed. Other critics bemoan the fact that employees are spread out all over the store, making it difficult to ask these employees for help. Finally, some shoppers charge that Walmart managers are not available when customers need help.

Why is Walmart so cheap? ›

According to John Karolefski, a grocery store analyst and editor of Grocery Stories, "Walmart can demand the lowest price from vendors and manufacturers and get the lowest price from them because they have so many stores." About 10,500 stores in 24 countries, to be more specific (via Walmart).

What should you not buy at the grocery store? ›

Never Put These Popular Grocery Store Items in Your Cart
  • 1 of 40. Bottled water. ...
  • 3 of 40. Kitchen utensils. ...
  • 5 of 40. Your prescriptions. ...
  • 7 of 40. Pre-packaged deli meats. ...
  • 9 of 40. Shredded cheese. ...
  • 11 of 40. Magazines. ...
  • 13 of 40. Vitamins. ...
  • 16 of 40. Baked goods.
Aug 21, 2020

Why is Walmart meat so red? ›

Fresh meat in the supermarket is red because of the pigment called "myoglobin," which stores oxygen in muscle cells. But myoglobin is only red when it is bonded to oxygen molecules.

What is the best meat brand? ›

Top Meat Companies in the World:
  • Hormel Foods Corporation.
  • JBS S.A.
  • Minerva Foods SA.
  • NH Foods Ltd.
  • Sysco Corporation.
  • Tyson Foods.
  • WH Group.
  • Vion Food Group.

What is the 9 minute rule at Walmart? ›

To completely excuse a Full Occurrence: Enough protected PTO is used to reduce the total unprotected time down to 9 minutes or less of the scheduled shift (minus the usual lunch period).

What is the most shoplifted Walmart in America? ›

An Ohio Walmart in Cincinnati's Westwood neighborhood is the chain's top store - for shoplifting. Cincinnati police claim the store at 2322 Ferguson Road is victimized by shoplifters at a higher rate than any of the other more than 4,500 Walmarts operating in the US.

What is Walmart's biggest weakness? ›

Walmart's Weaknesses – Internal Strategic Factors

Employee treatment and working conditions – Walmart has received criticisms and lawsuits several times regarding its workforce. Low wages, inadequate healthcare, and poor working conditions are few of the issues that have been publically criticized.

What is the #1 selling item at Walmart? ›

Bananas are regularly Walmart's best-selling item.

Overall, the company sells over 1.5 billion pounds of bananas each year, making it one of the largest banana vendors in the world. Others among the company's top ten best selling include: Toilet Paper (330 million rolls each week) Slow Cookers.

Can I own a Walmart? ›

You Can't Buy a Walmart in 2022. Unfortunately, you cannot buy a Walmart as of 2022. Walmart is made up of various shareholders which makes Walmart not able to be a franchise. The Walton family still owns over 50% of the company through Walton Enterprises LLC and the Walton Family Holdings Trust.

Why does Germany not have Walmart? ›

In conclusion, Walmart failed in Germany due to a variety of factors including an inability to adapt to German retail market conditions and a lack of competitive prices against German stores.

What should you always buy at Walmart? ›

10 Things You Should Always Buy at Walmart
  • Great Value Hazelnut Spread. ...
  • Great Value Peanut Butter. ...
  • Equate No-Metal Elastics. ...
  • Equate Cotton Swabs. ...
  • Equate Blonde & Silver Shampoo. ...
  • Great Value Sweet Cream Coffee Creamer. ...
  • Great Value Chocolate Chips. ...
  • Great Value Chewy Variety Pack Granola Bars.
Nov 24, 2022

What things should you not buy cheap? ›

10 Things Not to Buy on the Cheap
  • Batteries. Batteries are not cheap. ...
  • Lightbulbs. Like batteries, you'll replace cheap light bulbs more frequently than quality light bulbs. ...
  • Wall paint. ...
  • Shoes. ...
  • Mattress. ...
  • Laptop. ...
  • Tires. ...
  • Dish soap.
Apr 28, 2021

What is the 10 foot rule at Walmart? ›

The 10-foot Rule is one of Walmart's secrets to customer service. During his many store visits, Sam Walton encouraged associates to take this pledge: “I solemnly promise and declare that every customer that comes within 10 feet of me, I will smile, look them in the eye, greet them, and ask if I can help them.”

Can you go barefoot in a grocery store? ›

No federal or state laws in the United States prohibit you from going barefoot while shopping at the grocery store or the mall, or while eating out at your favorite restaurant. Those venues may have their own rules, but they are free to change these rules at any time.

What grocery items will be scarce? ›

Here are 12 products expected to be affected by supply chain shortages and heavy consumer demand in early 2023.
  • Cereal, bread and flour.
  • Lettuce.
  • Champagne.
  • Eggs.
  • Prescription medications.
  • Tomato products.
  • Cement and concrete.
  • Olive oil.
Jan 6, 2023

What meat is Walmart recalling? ›

All of the ground beef products subject to this recall were produced from February 1, 2022, through April 8, 2022. Additionally, each of the recalled products bears the establishment number "EST. 46841" inside the USDA mark of inspection. For a complete list of recalled ground beef products, click here.

What is the fattest red meat? ›

Fatty Cuts of Meat

Filet mignon, also known as Chateaubriand or tenderloin, T-bone, New York Strip, porterhouse, flap or skirt steak and rib-eye steaks all contain the highest amounts of fat.

Who supplies Walmart beef? ›

Creekstone Farms processes the cattle at its facility, and FPL Foods operates Walmart's case-ready packing plant in Georgia, where the meat gets packaged and sent to the stores. The 201,000-square-foot packing facility, in Thomasville, Ga., opened in early 2020.

What does Walmart do with old meat? ›

In FY2022, we donated more than 696 million pounds of food in the U.S. alone. Finally, if food is no longer edible, we work to convert it to animal feed, compost or energy.

What do supermarkets do with unsold meat? ›

Butcher shops and meat departments can sell (for a very low price) their bones, fat, and other inedible meat scraps to rendering companies that will turn the unwanted waste into proteins for pet food and other industrial uses. This is circle-of-life stuff; the kind that maybe you don't want to know about.

What is the healthiest deli meat? ›

Choose the leanest cut of deli meat possible such as turkey, chicken breast, lean ham or roast beef. These type of deli meat have the highest nutritional value compared to others.

What is the number 1 healthiest meat? ›

Healthiest options: turkey and chicken

When it comes to the healthiest meats that pack the biggest nutritional punch, turkey and chicken should be at the top of your (grocery) list, says Schiff. Both are about equal in terms of nutrition, with turkey tending to be leaner than chicken.

What is the safest meat to eat? ›

Steaks, pork chops, and other whole-muscle meats are the safest bet. That's because the cooking process can easily kill off bacteria on the cut's surface, while the inside of the meat is essentially sterile, protected from any potential pathogens—in theory.

What is the code for shoplifting at Walmart? ›

Additionally, the former employee states that Walmart has codes for shoplifting ("Code 1"), a wet spill ("Code 10"), a dry spill ("Code 20"), a call to retrieve carts from the parking lot ("Code 50"), and customer assistance ("Code C").

How many shifts can you miss at Walmart? ›

You can miss up to five days during a six-month work period before Walmart fires you. A missed work shift amounts to one point. You can get up to five points at Walmart.

How many breaks do you get in a 5 hour shift at Walmart? ›

How many breaks do you get in a 5-hour shift? One. Shifts that are five-hours long or shorter include one paid 15-minute break.

What is the number 1 stolen item in America? ›

#1. Cash. Cash is always on the top of burglars' wish list. Unlike other most commonly stolen items that need to be resold in pawn shops or on the street, cash can be used directly and quickly without any conspicuous.

What food is stolen from stores most often? ›

A report by the UK's Center for Retail Research found that cheese is the most stolen food in the world. It turns out that about 4 percent of cheese goes missing from stores. The researchers say the cheese disappears most …

Who is more likely to shoplift? ›

It is commonly touted that men are more likely to shoplift than women – however, this is based on data from 1980 and may be outdated. Approximately 1 out of 11 people in the US are shoplifters. ¼ of shoplifters are children. 55% of shoplifters began shoplifting when they were teenagers.

Who is Walmart's biggest rival? ›

  • Amazon is a global eCommerce powerhouse and Walmart's top competitor. ...
  • Costco is a members-only wholesale retailer and competes with Walmart and its subsidiaries. ...
  • Best Buy is a consumer electronics retailer with 1779 stores in North America.

Is Walmart better than Amazon? ›

For affordable grocery shopping and fresh grocery delivery, Walmart wins. For a larger inventory of items (including handmade artisanal goods), and a plethora of streaming services and Whole Foods Market deals, Amazon is the retailer for you.

Why Walmart is better than Target? ›

Walmart is typically the most reliable for the best bargains and perks. Target offers an upgraded shopping experience and premium design-forward products that feel far more expensive than they really are.

How do I find hidden deals at Walmart? ›

To find Walmart hidden clearance, use the 'check a price' feature in the Walmart app. The Walmart app has a scan price feature that lets you check the price of any item in the store by scanning its barcode.

What day of the week is Walmart best stocked? ›

Walmart does not have a specific restocking schedule but replenishes its products depending on demand. Restocking times may also vary by location, where some stores are busier than others.

What should I bring on my first day at Walmart? ›

Walmart will usually supply you with a list of what to bring to your orientation; however, you should plan to bring:
  1. Your identification card.
  2. Your driver's license or state identification card.
  3. Your birth certificate or social security card.
  4. Your payment/direct deposit information.
Aug 21, 2022

What food is Walmart recalling? ›

The voluntary recall was placed on December 15, 2022, and the product is labeled as 18.5 ounce packages of “INNOVASIAN Crispy Chicken with Almonds ENTREE” with lot code 22321-1, UPC code 695119120499, and a best by date May 24, 2023.

What food did Walmart recall? ›

Walmart issued a voluntary recall on the InnovAsian Crispy Chicken with Almonds on Dec 15, 2022. As of Dec.

What food is Walmart pulling from its shelves? ›

The recalled products include various soft baked cookies, soft baked fruit and oat breakfast ovals, chewy bars, and brownie bites. Their "Best By" dates were between 9/24/2022 and 3/13/2023.

Videos

1. The Absolute Worst foods sold at Walmart!
(Film Viral)
2. Canned Foods You Should Never Buy From Walmart
(Mashed)
3. 10 Healthy Grocery Items To Buy At Walmart Supercenter...And What To Avoid!
(FlavCity with Bobby Parrish)
4. Foods You Should Absolutely Never Buy At Walmart
(Mashed)
5. 10 Walmart Foods You Should Absolutely NEVER BUY (Part 2)
(BabbleTop)
6. 10 Walmart Foods You NEED to BUY!!!
(BabbleTop)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Mr. See Jast

Last Updated: 21/06/2023

Views: 5950

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (55 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Mr. See Jast

Birthday: 1999-07-30

Address: 8409 Megan Mountain, New Mathew, MT 44997-8193

Phone: +5023589614038

Job: Chief Executive

Hobby: Leather crafting, Flag Football, Candle making, Flying, Poi, Gunsmithing, Swimming

Introduction: My name is Mr. See Jast, I am a open, jolly, gorgeous, courageous, inexpensive, friendly, homely person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.