Costco faces lawsuit over salmonella worries in rotisserie chicken

A recent lawsuit has been filed against Costco, alleging that the popular rotisserie chickens sold by the retailer may be contaminated with salmonella. The lawsuit claims that these chickens are sourced from a plant in Nebraska that has a history of failing federal salmonella standards.

The legal action was initiated on February 12 and focuses on a poultry plant in Fremont, Nebraska, which supplies rotisserie chicken to Costco. The lawsuit heavily relies on a report by Farm Forward that analyzed testing data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The plaintiff, Lisa Taylor of Affton, Missouri, stated that she regularly purchased Costco’s rotisserie chicken without knowledge of the potential contamination risks. The lawsuit argues that Costco has misled customers by marketing its chicken products as “safe” and of “high quality.”

The proposed class action suit aims to seek damages on behalf of customers who bought Costco’s rotisserie chicken or raw chicken products after January 1, 2019, implicating a significant number of customers due to Costco’s impressive sales figures shared at their January annual meeting. Costco revealed that they sold over 157 million rotisserie chickens globally in 2025.

The Farm Forward report highlighted concerning data about the Fremont facility, indicating that it had consistently received the lowest performance rating, Category 3, from the USDA in 92% of monthly assessments since its establishment in 2019. Plants with a Category 3 rating exhibit high rates of positive salmonella samples compared to national benchmarks. Furthermore, the report identified 18 other major poultry producers that frequently received the same low rating as the Fremont plant.

This lawsuit against Costco is not an isolated incident, as the retailer faces additional legal challenges regarding product claims for items such as tequila, baby wipes, and rotisserie chicken preservatives. The popular $4.99 rotisserie chickens provided by Costco are now under scrutiny due to the potential salmonella contamination issues associated with their sourcing practices.

USA TODAY reached out to Costco for comment on February 17, but the retailer did not respond to the media inquiry. The ongoing legal action serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in the food supply chain to ensure consumer safety and satisfaction. Consumers must be informed about any potential risks associated with the products they purchase to enable them to make well-informed decisions. Companies like Costco must uphold the highest standards to protect their customers and maintain trust in their brand.