There's a reason Walmart is a go-to spot for so many shoppers: Not only are the prices consistently low, but you can get pretty much everything you need at one store. And if you get a lot of trick-or-treaters, you might be adding Halloween candy to your Walmart shopping list this month. But now, the retail giant is facing a report of worms in Reese's Peanut Butter Cups sold at its stores, as well as a massive candy recall. Read on to find out why you'll want to take caution on your next shopping trip.
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A Walmart shopper allegedly found an unpleasant surprise in her Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.
In an Oct. 4 video posted on TikTok, user @veronicaaispuro31 posted a video of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups she reportedly bought at Walmart.
"Bought these at Walmart, just letting people know to please be careful buying the Reese's," the TikToker says, filming photos of individually wrapped Reese's Cups with what appears to be white worms inside. "This is just nasty."
She continued by telling viewers to "beware," explaining that she was opening the candies on camera to prove she didn't plant the worms there herself.
Best Life reached out to Walmart and Hershey's for comment on the claims and will update the story with their response.
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There have been other reports of insects in these chocolate products.
Jennifer Wallace / ShutterstockIn the comment section, TikTokers were equally alarmed, questioning what the expiration date on the package was and whether the chocolate was left over from last year's Halloween and just put back on the shelf. One commenter also speculated that the chocolate could have been infested due to sitting in a warehouse for too long.
"It's because they were in the heat, melted and chilled and re-solidified," one commenter offered as an explanation.
Another TikToker noted that Walmart isn't entirely to blame, writing, "This isn't gonna just be from Walmart! That had to come from the company that made them."
Giving weight to this claim, it's actually not the first time worms were spotted in Reese's cups, the Daily Dot reported. Another TikToker posted a video of worms in Reese's cups in May of last year, although they didn't note where they purchased them from.
Snopes also conducted an investigation in 2014 when a video of worms reportedly in Reese's Peanut Butter Cups went viral. At the time, the brand was actively apologizing on social media, per Snopes, with Reese's also explaining that infestations are an environmental problem that can occur during food storage and distribution.
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Other candy sold at Walmart and other stores has been recalled
U.S. CPSCOther candies sold at Walmart were pulled from shelves due to different concerns. According to an Oct. 5 notice from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Candy Dynamics recalled 70 million units of Slime Licker Sour Rolling Liquid Candy, as the rolling ball can detach and pose a choking hazard.
Per the recall notice, the products were sold in four flavors (Blue Razz, Strawberry, Sour Apple, and Black Cherry), and labeled with the "Toxic Waste" brand and the "Mega Toxic Waste" brand. They were available for purchase in-store at Walmart, Five Below, and other stores nationwide, and also available online via Amazon, CandyDynamics.com, and other websites between June 2015 and July 2023.
A similar product, Cocco Candy Rolling Candy, was also recalled yesterday due to similar choking concerns and the death of a 7-year-old girl in April. The CPSC notes that the Cocco Candy products were sold at stores nationwide and online at www.kgrcandies.com, but per the recall notice, it doesn't appear that this candy was sold at Walmart.
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You're entitled to a full refund.
U.S. CPSCAccording to the CPSC, Candy Dynamics received two reports of the rolling ball detaching from the container, but fortunately, no injuries have been reported for this specific recall.
If you grabbed these candies from Walmart or Five Below ahead of Halloween, the CPSC asks that you don't consume them and take them away from children. For a refund—which applies to any products that aren't empty—contact Candy Dynamics at 877-546-0483 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), Monday through Friday, or online via Candy Dynamics' recall page.
