UPDATE: Walmart Security: June 23, 2026, 1:41 p.m. CDT
ROCHESTER, Minn. — Walmart security said the products involved in the reported incident were disposed of and processed through the company’s loss-claims system after a person allegedly spit on sealed food items at the north Rochester store.
According to the callback, the incident was entered into Walmart’s internal reporting system, law enforcement was contacted and the individual was trespassed from the store. Security said the company also can share information across stores and departments so the report is visible companywide.
Walmart security said the food was inside a sealed box, not left exposed on open shelves, and that the affected items were marked to zero and thrown away. The company also said store staff are trained regularly in de-escalation and that overnight teams continue stocking pallets during evening hours.
It was not immediately clear whether the person was arrested. Security said law enforcement may also use identifying information, such as photos or vehicle details, to help confirm identity and determine next steps.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE:
ROCHESTER, Minn. — June 23, 2026, 12:14 p.m. CDT — Rochester police and Walmart were being asked Tuesday to respond after a witness reported seeing a person spit on at least one of about seven pallets of food items waiting to be stocked at the Walmart North store in Rochester.
A witness said the incident happened earlier in the evening and was reported to store security. The witness said security responded promptly. The Rochester Sun Times News has filed a records request with Rochester police and has also reached out to Walmart for comment. This story will be updated when official responses are received.
The incident raises questions about food safety, contamination procedures and whether any affected items will be discarded or removed from sale. It also underscores the role of store security and law enforcement in handling possible contamination events in retail settings.
Rochester Sun Times News is withholding the names of those involved pending official confirmation and further reporting.
According to the witness, the person moved past the stocked pallets and spit onto food items waiting to be shelved. The witness said the report was made immediately to security. No official statement had been released as of publication time.
Questions remain about whether any merchandise was isolated, whether sealed products will be treated as contaminated and whether police will open a formal case. The newspaper is awaiting responses from Rochester police and Walmart.
Lisa Loucks-Christenson is the founder and publisher of Rochester Sun Times News and an investigative reporter covering local news, public safety, courts, accountability and community issues.
A multimedia journalist, author and photographer, she has built Rochester Sun Times News as an independent local platform focused on news, analysis and public-interest reporting.
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