Yes, Walmart is selling two different versions of its canned Great Value sweet corn

Walmart customers took to social media to share differences they noticed between their cans of Great Value golden sweet whole kernel corn. Great Value is one of Walmart’s store brands. 

Some users claim Walmart made a variety of “major changes” to the canned corn product. Many shoppers have flooded the review page for the product on Walmart’s website, claiming that the product they received was not as advertised on the store’s website. 

There are several differences between the two types of canned corn, according to the online posts and reviews. 

One difference is the removal of a graphic on the can’s label that says the corn is “picked and packed the same day.” Customers also pointed out a new addition of a Proposition 65 warning that says the product may “expose you to chemicals including lead.”

The cans of corn with a Proposition 65 warning also have different nutritional facts, and say the corn is a product of Thailand. The can without the Proposition 65 label does not list where the product is sourced from.

Multiple VERIFY readers sent us questions about the different can labels. 

THE QUESTION

Is Walmart selling two different versions of its Great Value canned corn? 

THE SOURCES

• Walmart spokesperson
• VERIFY’s own analysis of Walmart’s in-store Great Value canned corn in California and Maryland
• California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
• Reader-submitted photo

THE ANSWER

Yes, Walmart is selling two different versions of its Great Value canned corn.

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WHAT WE FOUND

Walmart is selling the two different variations of corn that are described in the social media posts, according to a VERIFY search of store inventory. Walmart said it sometimes uses different suppliers, which can lead to variations in the products and their labels, a spokesperson for the company said. 

“In order to ensure adequate supply of important everyday items, sometimes it is necessary to source from different suppliers to meet the customer demand. In some cases, the product from each supplier may be different and require different labeling,” a Walmart spokesperson told VERIFY.

VERIFY found at least one Walmart store in California that’s selling a 15-ounce version of Great Value canned corn that doesn’t have the “picked and packed the same day” graphic, lists the calories per serving as 90 instead of 45, and says “product of Thailand.” This version also has a Proposition 65 (Prop 65) label, as the viral posts claim. 

Prop 65 is a California law that’s been in place since 1986. It requires products, buildings and businesses in the state to include a label if they might contain any chemical that could cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm, unless there is “no significant risk” of exposure. 

Prop 65 labels may be found on a variety of canned products depending on the packaging or production process. For example, some canned sweet potato or canned black olive products may have a Prop 65 label, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment says. 

The office recommends draining and rinsing the food product if the can has a Prop 65 label to help reduce the amount of any harmful chemicals.

Although the label is only required in California, it may be seen on products outside of the state if a company chose not to create two different types of packaging.

VERIFY asked Walmart why this product received the label but did not receive a response. 

VERIFY also found another version of the canned corn at the store in the San Diego area. In addition to the 15-ounce can with the Prop 65 label, the Walmart store was also selling a larger 29-ounce can without the Prop 65 warning label.

This photo was sent to the VERIFY team by reader Cierra in Illinois. Cierra’s photo matches the two different labels we found at the California Walmart. 

VERIFY also visited two Maryland stores and found that they sold the version of the can that doesn’t have the Prop 65 label.  

For more information on Prop 65 and what it means, read our previous VERIFY on how the label does not necessarily mean a product can cause cancer.