Costco’s famed $4.99 rotisserie rooster is underneath hearth in a proposed class motion lawsuit claiming that the massive field warehouse falsely marketed that its birds had been preservative free.
Two California customers say Costco mislead prospects nationwide by prominently promoting its rotisserie rooster as containing no preservatives, whereas discreetly itemizing two added preservatives — sodium phosphate and carrageenan — in high-quality print within the ingredient record.
“Costco Wholesale Company has systemically cheated prospects out of tens—if not tons of—of tens of millions of {dollars} by falsely promoting its Kirkland Signature Seasoned Rotisserie Rooster as containing ‘no preservatives’,” in accordance the criticism filed in California’s Southern District Courtroom on Thursday.
Sodium phosphate and carrageenan are widespread meals components. Sodium phosphate is used to protect moisture and improve taste in processed meals, whereas carrageenan is added to thicken and stabilize merchandise like meats.
Research have linked extreme sodium phosphate consumption to kidney pressure and cardiovascular dangers, and carrageenan to digestive irritation and intestine irritation. Nonetheless, the Meals and Drug Administration says each are secure to make use of at authorised ranges.
Costco didn’t instantly reply to The Instances’ request for remark, however stated in a press release to USA At the moment that it had eliminated the no preservatives statements in retailer and on-line in an effort to “preserve consistency among the many labeling on our rotisserie chickens and the indicators in our warehouses/on-line shows.”
The 2 plaintiffs, Bianca Johnston and Anatasia Chernov, bought Costco rotisserie chickens at shops in Victorville in 2024 and San Marcos in 2025 believing they had been preservative free because of the outstanding indicators saying so, in keeping with the criticism. Each customers say they like to purchase meals which can be preservative free when potential.
The lawsuit states that with out correct promoting prospects are unable to make knowledgeable selections on whether or not to buy the rooster and evaluate pricing to Costco competitor’s merchandise.
In pictures included within the criticism, Costco indicators promote the rooster as being USDA Grade A and containing no synthetic colours, preservatives or flavors.
With a price ticket underneath $5, Costco’s well-loved rotisserie rooster is cheaper than comparable merchandise at different grocery shops. Retail analysts have described it as a “loss chief,” that means that it’s bought at little to no revenue in an effort to entice prospects to buy on the retailer and spend cash on different objects.
The case comes as Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s Make America Wholesome Once more motion brings better nationwide scrutiny to ultra-processed meals contributing to larger demand for items which can be marketed as being sans preservatives.
The criticism alleges that Costco violated client legal guidelines in California, the place the chickens had been bought, and in Washington, the place Costco is headquartered. Plaintiffs are in search of to carry a category motion lawsuit on behalf of people that bought the rotisserie rooster in California and throughout the nation.
