If you purchased Great Value brand chicken broth at Walmart late last year, check your pantry immediately. The retail chain issued a recall notice affecting more than 12,000 cartons of the product in nine states after the Food and Drug Administration warned of possible packaging flaws that could lead to spoilage or contamination of the broth. Here’s everything you need to know about the recall, why the federal agency intervened and how to proceed if you have purchased the potentially affected broth.
The FDA alert and the scope of the recall
The recalled product is marketed in 48-ounce cartons under the label “Great Value Family Size Chicken Broth” and is sold primarily in the southern part of the country. FDA noted that the 2,023 cases (about 12,100 units) being recalled have an expiration date of March 25, 2026, with the potential risk of packaging failure and compromised sterility of the broth, causing it to spoil sooner than expected.
Although the FDA released the notification last December, the recall was not made widely public until mid-January. According to official information, there have been no reported illnesses associated with consumption of this broth, but Walmart recommends not consuming it and is offering full refunds for any customers who purchased it.
In which states was the recalled broth sold?
According to Walmart, this Great Value brand chicken broth was distributed in 242 stores spread across nine states:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Georgia
- Louisiana
- Missouri
- Mississippi
- Oklahoma
- Tennessee
- Texas
If you reside in any of these states, it is suggested to check the lot number of the broth:
- Expiration date: March 25, 2026.
- Lot Code: 98F09234
- Retail UPC: 007874206684
- Box UPC: 078742066844
If you purchased Great Value brand chicken broth at Walmart late last year, check your pantry immediately. The retail chain issued a recall notice affecting more than 12,000 cartons of the product in nine states after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned of possible packaging flaws that could lead to spoilage or contamination of the broth.
Background: What caused the problem?
Great Value chicken broth is made by TreeHouse Foods, one of the largest private label manufacturers in the United States, which also produces for other chains such as Aldi, Amazon, Costco, Kroger and Target. In an email statement, TreeHouse Foods explained that the issue was due to an “internal procedural error” and not the raw packaging materials.
The FDA, in its official report, described the situation as a risk of “compromised product sterility” due to “potential packaging failures”. For its part, Tetra Pak, the company that supplies the aseptic cartons, clarified that as far as it is known there was no failure in the packaging material and that no specific recall has been issued for its packages. According to Tetra Pak’s statements, this type of aseptic carton is manufactured to high safety and quality standards, and the company is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation.
Impact and FDA classifications
At the moment, the FDA classifies this recall as “ongoing ‘ and ’unofficial” in terms of its risk level. However, the classification was recently upgraded to Class II, meaning that consumption of the product could cause temporary or reversible health problems, but does not pose a serious or potentially fatal hazard. Still, when in doubt about its safety, the recommendation from both Walmart and the federal agency is to discard the broth immediately and request a refund.
Remember that Class I recalls are those where there is a reasonable probability that consumption of a product will result in serious health consequences or death (e.g., listeria contamination). In the case of Class II, the risk is of lesser severity, and Class III involves even less danger to the public.
How to apply for reimbursement?
Walmart says it is working together with TreeHouse Foods to reimburse all customers who purchased the affected broth. To do so, it recommends:
- Do not consume the product or attempt to cook with it.
- Check the lot number on the container, making sure it matches the expiration date and codes listed by the FDA.
- Contact Walmart customer service or go to the store where the purchase was made.
- Present the purchase receipt or, if not available, provide product identification to process the refund.
In addition, FDA notes that consumers can contact the manufacturer, TreeHouse Foods, using the information on the packaging or through the official channels posted on the company’s website.
Overview of food recalls
In recent years, FDA has reported an increase in food and cosmetic recalls, reaching the highest number since 2019 in 2024. Factors that have led to this increase include increased accuracy in product traceability, improved communication with the public, and companies’ growing concern for food safety.
Regulatory specialists point out that most recalls are due to errors or “deviations” in production procedures, rather than defects in packaging materials. It is therefore essential that companies constantly review their processes and inform the community when anomalies such as this chicken stock arise.
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