What shoppers in Green Bay should know about the lawsuit against Costco

Costco, a popular wholesale retailer, is facing a lawsuit from customers who claim the company falsely advertised its rotisserie chicken as containing “no preservatives.” The proposed class action lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, alleges that Costco’s Kirkland Signature Seasoned Rotisserie Chicken actually contains two added preservatives: sodium phosphate and carrageenan. These preservatives are used to support moisture retention, texture, and product consistency during cooking.

The lawsuit accuses Costco of deceiving customers and violating consumer protection laws in California and Washington state, where the company is headquartered. It alleges that Costco has cheated customers out of millions of dollars by falsely advertising its rotisserie chicken as preservative-free.

In response to the lawsuit, Costco stated that it has removed signage regarding preservatives from its rotisserie chicken products to maintain consistency with labeling. The company explained that carrageenan and sodium phosphate are approved by food safety authorities and are used to enhance the quality of the chicken.

The complaint includes a photo of an in-store advertisement for Costco’s rotisserie chicken, which claims the product contains no preservatives, artificial flavors, colors, MSG, or gluten. However, the plaintiffs argue that the presence of sodium phosphate and carrageenan contradicts this claim. While sodium phosphate is a preservative that controls pH and reduces fat oxidation, carrageenan is a thickening agent without nutritional value.

According to the complaint, Costco’s false advertising is based on prominently displayed “no preservatives” signs in stores and on the company’s website. The preservatives are listed on the back of the packaging in smaller print, leading customers to believe the product is preservative-free.

The proposed class action lawsuit seeks to represent all customers in the United States who purchased Costco’s rotisserie chicken. The plaintiffs are also requesting approval for a subclass of California customers and unspecified monetary damages. Despite initiating the lawsuit, both women involved stated that they would consider purchasing Costco’s rotisserie chicken again if the preservative-related representations were accurate.

As the legal proceedings unfold, Costco customers in the Green Bay area may be interested to know that there is a location at 2355 Costco Way in Bellevue. For more information, individuals can visit the Costco website.