More than 44,000 cans of fruit cocktail sold at Walmart have been recalled over potential lead contamination, with shoppers in seven states urged to check their pantries for one specific lot before opening a can.

Over 44,000 cans of fruit cocktail sold at Walmart have been recalled.

What Was Recalled?

Pacific Coast Producers voluntarily recalled a lot of Great Value Fruit Cocktail in Fruit Juice from Concentrate on Oct. 1, and the recall received a Class II classification from the FDA on Oct. 20, per an enforcement report.

The recall affects over 44,000 15-oz. cans of Great Value Fruit Cocktail in Fruit Juice from Concentrate distributed by Walmart with the lot number 6FCB 04 C2263.

The affected items have a best if used by date of Sept. 1, 2027 and UPC 078742369570.

1,836 cases with 24 fruit cocktail cans per case were included in the recall, meaning that 44,064 cans were affected.

The specific product recalled is the 15-ounce Great Value Fruit Cocktail in Fruit Juice from Concentrate, with the table listing:

- Product: Great Value Fruit Cocktail in Fruit Juice from Concentrate (15-ounce) - UPC: 078742369570 - Lot Code: 6FCB 04 C2263 - Best-By-Date: September 1, 2027

Which States Are Affected?

Per the enforcement report, the recalled items were distributed in Alabama, Arizona, Louisiana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Washington and Wyoming.

The FDA reported that 1,836 cases (44,064 cans total) were distributed to Alabama, Arizona, Louisiana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Wyoming.

That distribution list does not mean every Walmart store in those states stocked the recalled lot — only that those are the states where affected cases were shipped. Check all three codes on your can, not just the brand name.

What Does Class II Mean?

A Class II recall indicates that "use of or exposure to" the affected fruit cocktail items "may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences" or that there is a "remote" probability of serious health consequences, per the FDA.

According to the enforcement report, the manufacturer recalled the fruit cocktail items due to "potential contamination with elevated levels of lead".

Per the FDA, "there is no known safe level of exposure to lead".

Lead is toxic to people of any age, but young children are especially vulnerable. High exposure in early childhood can lead to neurological effects, including learning disabilities and behavioral difficulties.

No recall-related illnesses have been reported to date, according to Simply Recipes reporting of the FDA notice.

What Should Shoppers Do?

Do not eat the fruit cocktail if the can matches the UPC, lot code, and date listed above. Discard it or contact the store where you purchased it to ask about a return.

"Safety is a top priority," a Walmart spokesperson told PEOPLE in a statement. "When notified of recalls, we move quickly to remove the impacted products from our stores and implement a sales block at registers and online".

"When notified of recalls, we move quickly to remove the impacted products from our stores and implement a sales block," a Walmart spokesperson said.

Why It Matters / What Happens Next

Canned fruit can sit in a cupboard for months, so a lot with a best-by date of September 1, 2027 could still be in kitchens long after the recall notice. That is why checking the lot code matters more than checking the brand alone.

Watch for any expansion of the recall, any update from Pacific Coast Producers on the source of the lead, and any further FDA enforcement report.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Walmart fruit cocktail is recalled? Only the 15-ounce Great Value Fruit Cocktail in Fruit Juice from Concentrate with UPC 078742369570, lot code 6FCB 04 C2263, and best-by date September 1, 2027.

How many cans are affected? 44,064 cans — 1,836 cases with 24 cans per case.

What should I do if I have a recalled can? Do not eat it. Discard it or contact the store where you purchased it to ask about a return.