Walmart stands as one of the nation’s favorite stores, known for its extensive range of products offered at reasonable prices. It serves as a convenient all-in-one destination for everything from groceries and household necessities to electronics and beyond. Nonetheless, frequent shoppers at Walmart are often aware that not every product lives up to expectations in terms of taste and longevity, regardless of the enticingly low prices.
According to loyal customers, certain items should be steered clear of entirely. Fresh produce, for instance, often falls short right from the start, while electronics may not prove to be a good investment over time. Drawing from various reviews across the internet, including Reddit, we’ve put together a list of products you might want to skip on your next shopping trip.
8 Disappointing Foods to Skip at Walmart for Better Freshness and Flavor, According to Shoppers
1. Baking Goods And Supplies
If you're tempted by the thought of baking fresh cookies, breakfast muffins, pastries, and cakes, you might consider purchasing your baking ingredients and groceries from a retailer other than Walmart. This advice comes from Trista Best, MPH, RD, LD, a registered dietitian and frequent Walmart customer, who recently shared her insights with AllRecipes.
“Baking enthusiasts should exercise caution when purchasing lower-quality baking supplies, such as flour, sugar, and baking chocolate at Walmart,” Best told the outlet. Writer Isadora Baum also referred to them as "low quality" and "lacking in quality and flavor, you won’t get the biggest bang for your buck to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Best added: “Specialty baking stores often carry higher-quality options that can make a significant difference in your baked goods.”
2. Cereal
When it comes to breakfast staples like cereal, Walmart's Great Value brand often promises affordability. However, some shoppers have voiced concerns about the nutritional content. According to one customer, "the Great Value cereal boxes have so much sugar, I swear it sends my kids into overdrive."
Another agreed, writing, "there's absolutely zero ingredients in most of the Great Value brand cereals that set you up for a successful day. It's all just sugar." Sounds like if a nutritional breakfast is your goal, you're better off finding a healthier brand of cereal elsewhere.
3. Great Value Peanut Butter
Who doesn't love peanut butter? Unfortunately, although Walmart's Great Value brand peanut butter may have an unbeatable price tag, the quality just isn't worth it for some PB lovers.
The Sun ranked it as one of the worst options out there in a taste test. "Horrible!! so dry u can't spread it wo ripping the bread!! 0 stars!!! want refund," one review of the crunchy peanut butter says. We'll stick to Trader Joe's.
4. Eggs
While Walmart offers a variety of grocery essentials, including eggs, not all shoppers find them to be the best choice. Concerns about the quality and sourcing of Walmart's eggs have been raised by frequent shoppers.
"Something about the eggs at Walmart ick me out," wrote one customer in a Reddit forum. "It'll say free range or organic or one of those buzzwords, but something just seems off." If you're particular about your eggs, Walmart might not be the ideal destination for this breakfast staple.
5. Granola Bars
Granola bars, often touted as a quick healthy snack or breakfast option, can be found in various brands at Walmart, including Great Value. However, shoppers have raised concerns about the nutritional value, particularly the high sugar content in Walmart's offerings.
One shopper commented, "I avoid Walmart's granola bars because they're loaded with sugar, and I like to pack a granola bar for my kids lunch. I feel bad enough for the teachers who have to watch these kids all day, the last thing they need is a kid on a sugar rush."
"My kids will have 10-15 minutes between after-school activities, so I like to have granola bars on hand," one customer shared. "I tried out the Great Value brand, and found that my kids would have tons of energy for the first 10 minutes of practice and then absolutely crash. I've since avoided the brand." Instead, try finding bars made with more natural ingredients and less sugar.
6. K-Cups
If you're a committed coffee drinker, this one should come as no surprise. Quality coffee is important whether you're grinding the beans up yourself and doing a pour-over or buying the ready-to-brew K-cups, and unfortunately, according to shoppers, Walmart is not your one-stop-shop for coffee.
"I took one sip of the Great Value brand K-cup coffee and spit it out. Gave away the rest of the box," one customer said. "Yes, it was that bad."
7. Produce
Walmart's produce section isn't very promising either. "I swear I will find the freshest looking strawberries they have and within 24 hours of bringing them home, they're covered in mold," one person shared. "And I even buy organic!"
"I've given up buying produce at Walmart," said another shopper. "The bananas and avocados are hard as a rock until they're brown, the strawberries get moldy within hours, and the lettuce is always limp, no matter how many crisp-up tricks I try. I shop elsewhere for my produce now." Perhaps a local farmers market is a better option?
8. Great Value Canned Soups
Buying pre-made soups can be hit or miss at any supermarket. However, when it comes to canned soups from Walmart, dietitian Best expressed specific concerns to AllRecipes. “Walmart's store-brand canned soups can be loaded with sodium and artificial additives,” Best told the outlet.
She recommended avoiding Walmart’s store brand and choosing soups from well-known brands that contain less sodium and fewer additives. However, she emphasized the importance of reading labels carefully before making a purchase, The more you know!
