Walmart’s Great Value brand offers plenty of good food items. From its chewy granola bars to its smoked Gouda mac and cheese, there are many solid products to load our carts with. However, not every item in the grocery aisle is a winner. We turned to Reddit and found several food products that should be on the “pass” list.
The 10 Worst Great Value Products at Walmart
1. Great Value Pasta Sauce
One Reddit commenter labeled the Great Value pasta sauce as the “worst” product from the brand. “I don’t know what it is, but some of the GV pasta sauce tastes like pennies,” they wrote. If you’re looking for a solid jarred pasta sauce, you may want to head to Trader Joe’s and pick up its Roasted Red Pepper and Almond Pesto Sauce. It’s so good that even an Italian chef swears by it.
2. Great Value Pringles
If you’re trying to save money on your favorite chip, you might want to reconsider this one. One commenter said they “do not recommend” the Great Value Pringles imitation, adding that it’s best to “get the name brands” for this particular snack. With Pringles regularly adding new flavors to its lineup—like the Carnitas Taco Crisps sold at Walmart—it’s hard not to stick with the original creator.
3. Great Value Deli Meats
According to the online community, not all deli meats are created equal, especially when it comes to Walmart’s Great Value brand. One person said the “GV hams, roast beef, turkey, etc.” are the “worst.” But it’s not just Walmart shoppers who are disappointed; Aldi fans have similar complaints about the sliced meats there, describing them as “slimy,” “stinky,” and even “soggy.”
4. Great Value Bottled Water
If you think all water tastes the same, you may be surprised. One person said that Great Value’s bottled water seemed to irritate their throat. “I was getting the bottled water for a while, and my throat started bothering me…I stopped drinking the water, and my throat returned to normal.” Given the rise in popularity of reusable, insulated water bottles, it might be time to skip plastic bottled water altogether.
5. Great Value Salisbury Steak
“Great Value Salisbury steak should NOT be purchased,” warned a commenter on Reddit. Not only is it “bland,” but they also believe it made their entire family sick—including the dog. Sometimes, when you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. Luckily, making this delicious family favorite at home doesn’t take much time and will taste like you fussed for hours.
6. Great Value Steak Sauce
Speaking of steak, you might want to avoid Great Value steak sauce. While one commenter said, “It’s not terrible,” they warned that it doesn’t deliver the same flavor as the brand name: “If you’re planning on using it on steak expecting a similar steak sauce flavor, then you’ll be disappointed.” However, Walmart still offers some good condiment options. If you’re craving McDonald’s Big Mac sauce, you can find a near-perfect replica at this retailer, backed by a former McDonald’s chef.
7. Great Value Pop-Tarts
Nothing brings back childhood memories like a good Pop-Tart, but according to Reddit, Great Value’s version isn’t so great. One user described them as a “hard no,” while another agreed, calling them “terrible” because they are “dry and sticky.” It might be better to stick with the original Pop-Tarts to keep those nostalgic vibes alive and enjoy the well-known flavors—like pumpkin pie—that this brand gets right every time.
8. Great Value Bakery
Beware of the bakery items. “I don’t recommend the GV bakery items,” one Walmart shopper shared on Reddit. “To begin with, it’s frozen, but I notice a lot are going moldy by or before the expiration date.” Fans of Trader Joe’s seem to be much more enthusiastic about its bakery offerings. From its mini carrot sheet cake that has people grabbing their purse forks to the “heavenly” brown sugar and cardamom buns, it’s easy to see why Trader Joe’s bakery is a better bet.
9. Great Value Doritos
Like the Pringles, you should stick with the name brand for these snacking chips. One commenter noted that the Great Value knock-off Doritos don’t compare: “After one bite, they taste like corn with a hint of nacho dust.” If you’re craving that delicious Doritos flavor, head to Sam’s Club and try the , which offers an “extremely complex” flavor mix of cheeses, sour cream, and beef.
10. Great Value Beef Jerky
As one Reddit user explained, beef jerky fans may be disappointed with the Great Value brand, as it doesn’t taste the same. “Unless you like wet, soggy beef jerky that tastes different, then I wouldn’t get Great Value brand beef jerky.” While the convenience of store-bought jerky is great, making it yourself doesn’t take much time or effort, and it will taste far better. Plus, with options like Teriyaki Beef Jerky, you can have fun experimenting with different flavors.
