Walmart has built a reputation around convenience and low prices, and its grocery aisles are a big reason millions of people shop there. But being one of the biggest grocery retailers in the country also puts the company under a lot of scrutiny.

Over the years, shoppers, workers, consumer advocates, and industry groups have raised questions about everything from pricing and supplier relationships to food waste and sourcing. Some complaints are specific to Walmart, while others reflect problems that affect grocery stores across the industry.

That doesn’t mean every criticism is proof of wrongdoing. Walmart has pushed back on some of these claims and has its own policies and programs in place. Still, these are 10 issues that have made some customers look a little closer at what happens behind the grocery shelves.

Walmart Can Dominate the Grocery Scene in Some Areas

In certain communities, Walmart has become one of the few major grocery options around. When smaller supermarkets close or struggle to compete, shoppers can be left with fewer places to buy their groceries.

That can affect more than convenience. Fewer competing stores may mean fewer choices in brands, prices, store policies, and customer service. Walmart’s low prices can be helpful for families on tight budgets, but its size can also make it difficult for smaller grocers to keep up.

Great Value Isn’t Always the Lowest Price

Seeing the Great Value label can make shoppers assume they’re getting the cheapest option available. That’s often the appeal of store brands, but the lowest price isn’t guaranteed.

Prices can vary from one store to another and from one product to another. Aldi, warehouse clubs, local supermarkets, and even dollar stores can sometimes beat Walmart’s price on similar products.

A quick comparison can be worthwhile, particularly for items you buy often. A familiar store brand doesn’t automatically mean the best deal.

Walmart Has Enormous Influence Over Suppliers

Walmart’s size gives it considerable buying power. The company purchases huge quantities of products, which gives it room to negotiate prices with suppliers.

Those deals can help Walmart keep shelf prices down, which is good news for shoppers looking for affordable groceries. Critics, though, have raised concerns about what Walmart’s bargaining position means for smaller suppliers and competing retailers.

A company with that much buying power can have an influence that reaches well beyond its own stores.

Weighted Grocery Items Have Faced Pricing Complaints

Packaged meat, produce, and other items sold by weight have occasionally raised questions from consumers about whether the amount shown on the label matches what they’re actually paying for.

In 2024, Walmart agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit involving allegations that certain weighted grocery products were inaccurately labeled or priced. Walmart denied wrongdoing, but the case brought renewed attention to how prices are calculated for products sold by weight.

For shoppers, checking the price and weight on packaged goods is a simple habit that can help catch mistakes.

Food Waste Has Drawn Criticism

Walmart handles an enormous amount of food every day, and some of it inevitably goes unsold. Like other major grocery retailers, the company has faced criticism over how much food gets discarded instead of donated.

Walmart says it works with food banks and hunger-relief organizations to redirect eligible food to people who need it. Still, food waste remains a concern across the grocery business, particularly for products with short shelf lives.

Seafood Sourcing Has Raised Questions

Walmart has made commitments involving seafood sourcing and sustainability, but some shoppers and advocacy groups have questioned how sustainable seafood claims are determined.

Labels such as “sustainably sourced” can mean different things depending on the certification or program behind them. Concerns over fishing methods, farming practices, and supply-chain transparency have led some consumers to pay closer attention to the labels on seafood packages.

Walmart’s Labor Record Gets Plenty of Attention

Walmart has faced years of criticism from labor advocates over wages, working conditions, and the company’s opposition to unionization.

The company has argued that it provides competitive pay, benefits, and opportunities for its workers. Labor groups have continued to point to disputes involving employees, including workers in grocery and meat departments.

For a retailer with such a large workforce, employee policies naturally attract plenty of public attention.

Problems Can Exist Far Up the Supply Chain

The people producing a product aren’t always the people working in the Walmart store where it is sold. Walmart relies on a huge network of suppliers, farms, manufacturers, and other businesses around the world.

That creates another area of scrutiny. Reports and investigations have raised questions about working conditions connected to parts of the global supply chain, including agricultural products, seafood, and manufacturing.

Walmart has supplier standards and compliance programs, but monitoring a supply chain this large can be difficult.

Walmart’s Prices Aren’t Always as Low as Shoppers Expect

“Save money” has been closely tied to Walmart’s identity for decades. That’s why some shoppers are surprised when they find that certain grocery items cost about the same as, or sometimes more than, products at competing stores.

Inflation, transportation costs, labor expenses, and higher wholesale prices have affected grocery retailers across the country. Still, Walmart’s discount reputation can create expectations that every item will be the cheapest option.

That isn’t always how the receipt turns out.

Egg Sourcing Has Faced Scrutiny

Eggs have become another area where Walmart has faced questions from animal welfare groups and consumers. The company has previously announced goals involving cage-free eggs, while advocacy organizations have criticized the pace of progress and practices associated with some suppliers.

Egg production is a complicated part of the grocery supply chain, and labels can tell shoppers only so much about how hens are raised.

For shoppers who care about animal welfare, checking the packaging and researching the certification behind an egg label can provide more information than relying on the store name alone.