Lawsuit claims Costco’s rotisserie chicken may carry salmonella

It was reported that a class-action lawsuit filed in Seattle accuses Costco of jeopardizing consumer safety due to salmonella contamination in its rotisserie chicken. The lawsuit, instigated by Farm Forward, points out the unsatisfactory safety standards at Costco’s processing plant in Nebraska, claiming that the plant consistently fails USDA salmonella standards and distributes unsafe chickens nationwide.

An essential aspect brought up in the complaint concerns the potential risk posed to consumers by Costco’s alleged failure to control salmonella in its chicken supply, labeling it as a genuine danger and breach of consumer trust. The lawsuit highlights the experience of Lisa Taylor, an individual who frequently purchased rotisserie chickens from Costco and, according to the lawsuit, suffered economic losses as a result of paying for potentially contaminated products.

The legal action, seeking financial restitution for customers who bought rotisserie chicken and raw chicken parts after January 1, 2019, aims to hold Costco accountable for the alleged safety violations at their plant. The $4.99 rotisserie chicken has been a significant draw for the retailer, selling over 157 million chickens globally in 2025 and serving as a key promotional item to attract customers to their stores.

This lawsuit isn’t the only legal challenge Costco is facing regarding their rotisserie chicken. An earlier suit alleged that the retailer advertised their Kirkland Signature Seasoned Rotisserie Chicken as containing “no preservatives,” while two preservatives, sodium phosphate, and carrageenan, were found to be present. The complaint accused Costco of breaching consumer protection laws by falsely advertising their product with alleged misleading labeling.

In response to these allegations, Costco clarified that while they use carrageenan and sodium phosphate to enhance texture, moisture retention, and product consistency during cooking, they had removed signs indicating the chicken had no preservatives. They maintained that both ingredients are approved by food safety agencies and serve specific purposes when used in their products.

These legal challenges underscore the importance of transparency and accuracy in food labeling and the need for companies like Costco to uphold stringent safety standards to protect consumer health. It remains to be seen how these lawsuits will unfold and what measures the retail giant will take to address the concerns raised by consumers regarding the safety and ingredient integrity of their rotisserie chicken product.