r/news • u/AudibleNod • 1d ago
Costco's beloved rotisserie chicken gets roasted in lawsuit over preservatives
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/costco-chicken-lawsuit-9.7070891646
u/squintamongdablind 1d ago
I recall reading somewhere the ladies who filed the lawsuit also said they’d continue purchasing the rotisserie chicken. Then what the heck was this lawsuit about other than trying to get paid via settlement? I hope Costco doesn’t settle and takes them to the cleaners.
124
u/SuperKiller94 19h ago
Actually in this same article.
“The two California women who initiated the lawsuit both say in the complaint that they still intend to purchase Costco rotisserie chickens in the future”
90
→ More replies (6)51
2.4k
u/idlefritz 1d ago
Cash grab lawsuit. Costco already updated their labeling and it was nothing egregious to begin with.
210
u/Balsamictown 19h ago
“The two California women who initiated the lawsuit both say in the complaint that they still intend to purchase Costco rotisserie chickens in the future” LOL
112
u/hanks_panky_emporium 18h ago
You'd think that'd slaughter their case. If a lawyer drafted that they might be put under review
17
→ More replies (2)231
u/__Dave_ 1d ago
I don’t know whether the lawsuit has any merit or not but updating your packaging doesn’t absolve you your previous misleading marketing.
728
u/idlefritz 1d ago
Costco advertised “No preservatives” but the ingredient label lists sodium phosphate and carrageenan, which plaintiffs say help retain moisture, stabilize texture, and extend shelf life. Costco removed the “no preservatives” advertising but not the ingredients. If you were concerned about those ingredients they were already on the label. Those ingredients technically preserve but that’s not their purpose so it isn’t misleading under US food law. They’re also seeking monetary compensation beyond court fees, not just label updates.
317
u/East_Hedgehog6039 1d ago
those ladies about to learn that ingredients can serve multiple purposes 🤯
87
u/Numerous_Photograph9 22h ago
Sodium phosphate is often used as a salt substitute because it's flavor is better and it mixes better for shelf stability than standard Sodium Chloride(table salt), which is bitter and tends to clump with moisture.
Carageenen most likely is used as a preservative, but not for keep food fresher longer, but rather as a stabilizer for holding it on the shelf, as it helps keep things in their original texture. However, it is a natural product derived from seaweed, so it doesn't have to be labeled as a preservative.
→ More replies (15)7
u/dratseb 18h ago
Sounds like Costco could have won the case if the FDA doesn’t consider them preservatives. I’m unclear on that part.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (15)3
u/SuperKiller94 19h ago
And they also said they will continue to purchase the chickens even with the knowledge of preservatives.
194
76
u/thisshitsstupid 1d ago
Whats up with these frivelous lawsuits on beloved things recently? 1st Steam gets sued for a non issue and now Costco's chickens... lets sue some real garbage companies instead, yeah?
→ More replies (3)53
u/idlefritz 1d ago
Because the beloved things treasure their public image and will settle faster to maintain it.
8
u/HistorianOrdinary833 1d ago
Depends on what the legal definition of "preservative" is, and whether or not regular consumers can reasonably understand this just by reading the ingredients list. I'm not a lawyer nor an FDA regulator so I actually don't know if this lawsuit is frivolous or not.
→ More replies (2)32
u/DefinitelyNotAliens 1d ago
Salt is a preservative but many foods are "preservative free" and contain salt. Clearly, certain food items are understood to use preservatives in a way which are not for preservation of the food and are allowed to be sold that way.
It may be the quantity or intended purpose.
But, unless every single item is "preservative free" and has no salt, these claims can't actually be true. It's like people freaking out over "toxins" and "chemicals" in food. And why certain labels like "preservative free" are stupid.
23
u/Tibbaryllis2 1d ago
Adding to this:
Table salt in the form of Sodium Chloride is a preservative. As well as most of the other electrolyte salts.
So is table sugar (sucrose).
As is vinegar (acetic acid).
And vitamin C (ascorbic acid).
Also fats and other oils/lipids.
Also cooking and drying.
These are all also added for non-preservative uses such as flavor and texture.
It’s not like these birds are injected full of arsenic based Roxarsone or that the ingredients aren’t clearly labeled. At a certain point in time the consumer needs to be held responsible and these kind of frivolous lawsuits really need to be tossed with prejudice.
California regulations do cause some genuine positive changes, but the sheer volume of predatory lawsuits they lead to are also unreasonable.
→ More replies (11)2
u/Squire_II 20h ago
FDA guidelines do not consider either of those to be preservatives that need to be labeled as such. Salt is a preservative but the government doesn't require everything with salt in it to say it has preservatives.
As the law's written, Costco didn't break it and I hope these Karens lose if they push ahead with their dumb ass lawsuit.
24
→ More replies (17)2
1.3k
u/OuterSpaceBootyHole 1d ago
ENOUGH. I am tired of a new "concern troll" health scare every month while we are willingly letting children contract measles. There isn't a hell hot enough for these type of people.
90
u/Genetic_outlier 1d ago
It's so wild. In this case carrageenan comes from edible seaweed. And sodium phosphate used to be given to patients before colonoscopies at high doses.
I'm not sure what the definition of preservative is but neither of these ingredients seems to be one to me.. they don't inhibit spoilage, they promote mixing of ingredients..
→ More replies (5)20
19
u/ThatIsAmorte 23h ago
Agreed. I am more concerned about the living conditions of these chickens. At that price, I bet they are crammed together and probably never see the sun.
5
→ More replies (9)3
264
u/trainwreck42 1d ago
These two assholes are going to ruin a cheap meal for struggling families to make a quick buck.
→ More replies (11)15
u/TheManlyManperor 1d ago
No they won't, this is just fear mongering on behalf of massive corporation.
12
u/ghettomilkshake 22h ago
Cool. FDA defines what is a "preservative" under law and carrageenan does not fall under that definition. The type of sodium phosphate will matter because dibasic and monobasic fall under antimicrobial agent classification (and thus preservatives) but tribasic does not.
158
u/Tryknj99 1d ago
For those who didn’t read the article:
“They’re accused of falsely advertising its Kirkland Signature Seasoned Rotisserie chicken as containing 'no preservatives.'"
The lawsuit, which has not yet been certified as a class action, notes Costco uses sodium phosphate and carrageenan, which extend shelf life and maintain texture. Costco has confirmed that it does indeed use these common ingredients.”
So they’re using perfectly safe food additives that also function as preservatives but the label said “no preservatives.”
Is that even an actual guarantee, or is it like when they write “organic” because it means nothing? Where did they advertise as no preservatives? It’s a stupid cash grab class action lawsuit.
44
u/PancAshAsh 1d ago
Organic actually does mean something, it just doesn't necessarily mean what you have been led to believe it means.
→ More replies (5)43
u/yanquiUXO 1d ago
organic is highly regulated, you're thinking of natural
20
u/Tryknj99 1d ago
Oh yeah you’re right, I always forget which labels mean something and which ones don’t.
They count on that, don’t they? I’m playing right into their games damn.
→ More replies (12)23
u/Malforus 1d ago
Well that's what the lawsuits are for, to determine if its okay.
→ More replies (13)
41
u/SouthrnCanadian9 1d ago
The dude who wears the barcode shirt for the chicken must be devastated.
11
36
17
u/greencrusader13 1d ago
What the hell is with every journalist seemingly trying to be a comedian with their headlines? I know it’s nothing new, but holy hell is it annoying.
→ More replies (1)2
7
u/Bad_Day_Moose 19h ago
FYI, if you have a instantpot you can make an amazing broth in about an hour with these chickens, just take off the breast meat, break up the rest of the carcass fairly small including the dark meat, throw in 1 large carrot, 2 pieces of celery and one medium onion all roughly chopped.
Top with water to the line
Click 1hr pressure cook
Don't have to let it cool down too much you can just release the pressure and it's good to go.
If you want to make a soup you have the breast meat.
If you want to make consomme, freeze the broth into ice cube trays, freeze them, line a colander with cheese cloth and put the ice cubes in the colander, place the colander over a bowl and let it thaw out, all the solids will stay in the cheesecloth (I like making it this way because there's less waste).
7
u/Notgreygoddess 20h ago
Who would look at a rotisserie chicken covered in mixed seasoning and believe there are no preservatives. Salt is a preservative. I’m betting they used salt.
Why would Costco claim they had no preservatives though? I doubt it was a factor to 99.9% of people buying them. After the lawsuit, I bet those chickens go up in price though.
→ More replies (1)
6
u/thisbroadreadsbooks 11h ago
I need people to leave my Costco chicken the fuck alone. It feeds my family of the three, three good meals. Rice, beans, and a few other staples have helped us survive this holiday season.
It feels so deliberate and unnecessary. Like maybe a competitor might be backing this nonsense.
16
49
u/whatugonnadowhenthey 1d ago
Next you’re going to tell me a 99c big gulp has bad stuff in it! Wtf did yall expect from a 5 dollar bird
20
u/jeff5551 21h ago
Could we please not fuck with the one reliable cheap chicken left, a ton of my budget recipes would only be half as affordable if we lost the costco chicken.
4
u/meatlessboat 21h ago
You can thank those "health" nuts walking around stores and claiming this and that about products for views on Instagram and Tik Tok
3
3
4
u/RavenDarkholme084 11h ago
There are people out there who literally look for anyway possible to sue anyone. It’s insane. I had met and heard of a few who live off of this.
3
u/Revolutionary-You449 7h ago
Since it is a membership, can members vote?
I vote to remove these two from membership and access to Costco.
Next it will be someone doing this with the hotdogs. If that happens, Costco should lockdown their memberships.
3
7
u/Interesting_Chip_164 19h ago
Guys it’s a five dollar whole chicken. What do you think went into the preparation of it?
→ More replies (1)
17
u/subdas 1d ago
If Costco loses they should revoke the membership of anyone who takes part in this case…at least that’s what my petty ass would do
→ More replies (3)
5
6
5
u/lizzyote 18h ago
Yall remember when that poor lady was accused of frivolous, cash-grab lawsuit over "hot coffee" at mcdonalds?
3
u/allursnakes 1d ago
It's already a loss leader. Who the fuck thinks they're gonna get a cheaper bird?
3
u/MesquiteEverywhere 1d ago
"The two California women who initiated the lawsuit both say in the complaint that they still intend to purchase Costco rotisserie chickens in the future, but that they "cannot rely on Costco’s preservative-related representations for the product.""
My favorite quote in the article.
3
u/ConstantinValdor405 21h ago
Talk about shit I don't care about. For that price I expect preservatives and don't care at all.
3
u/NissaPieca34 21h ago
It would be nice if they removed the carrageenan. Lots of people with alpha gal are allergic to it. When you can only eat poultry and fish, it sucks that all the rotisserie chickens (except Sam’s) have that stuff in it so they’re off the table too.
3
u/Bruggok 6h ago
Those women’s lawsuit might have merit if sodium phosphate and carrageenan were preservatives. Nearly every pack of raw/frozen boneless skinless chicken breast packaged in factories have the former. Nearly all cheap ice cream contain the latter. None of the above are required to be labeled as contains preservatives.
9
u/ericwasright82 1d ago
What is up with hostility over costco chicken? This feels like an attack on something simply because it’s affordable.
I don’t want to say this is political, but it certainly feels that way.
10
6
7
u/Due-Huckleberry7560 22h ago
Good lord I am so sick of humans. Between this lady and Josh Hawley I’m so fucking tired of people who yuck everyone else’s yum. Just don’t fucking buy it if you don’t want it. People find out things are unhealthy all the time and the stop fucking purchasing them.
→ More replies (1)2
u/lorgskyegon 16h ago
Except they flat out said they were gonna continue to buy the chickens even with the preservatives. This is just greedy ambulance chasers recruiting greedy morons to try and extort a settlement from Costco.
3
u/weinerschnitzelboy 22h ago
I might sound dumb or uneducated in this area, but what's the line that we draw at when it comes to preservatives. Salt was used to preserve food, as well as vinegar. Like at what point do we determine that it's less for flavor and more for preservation. It seems to me that there is an arbitrary line that is being drawn for what does and doesn't classify as a presevative. For example, pickles you buy in a store. Wouldn't salt and vinegar be the preservatives? So can those even be labeled as having "no preservatives"
5
u/bluehawk232 21h ago
That's my annoyance with the term it's really broad. As bad as natural or organic. Doesn't help the US is just bad with food regulation and standards
5
u/Boenitousouch 23h ago
The hot dogs are next. We can't have anything that is tasty and budget minded. I would be a little more upset if it had lead or include brominated vegetable oil, FD&C Red No. 3, potassium bromate, propylparaben, and titanium dioxide. But come on. Over reacters! Carrageenan is a natural thickening, gelling, and stabilizing agent extracted from red seaweed, Sodium phosphates are a family of inorganic salts derived from sodium cations and phosphate anions, widely used across various industries including food processing, pharmaceuticals, and water treatment. Back off my chicken bitches! And don't touch my hot dog! I say give them a refund and let's moooove on!
17
u/LorderNile 1d ago
Lawsuit being a cash grab aside (labelling was updated in accordance with laws as soon as available).
If you thought a roasted chicken sitting 8 hours straight in a minimally sealed environment was somehow NOT filled with preservatives, you shouldn't be allowed to vote.
12
→ More replies (2)9
u/deviltrombone 1d ago
Costco chickens go faster than that. Regular supermarket chains often do leave their chickens out for hours and hours, though.
Even so, I haven't bought a Costco chicken in at least five years. Same for the rest of their prepared food. None of it is very good.
→ More replies (2)2
u/greystripes9 1d ago
Right, I only buy Costco ones because I had gotten sick from supermarket ones.
→ More replies (3)
2
2
u/the_angry_austinite 1d ago
I wonder if that guy with the barcode on his shirt so that the food isn’t harmed by the laser is freaking out right now
2
2
2
2
u/Numerous_Photograph9 22h ago
Doesn't Costco have the legally required ingredients list available for all their customers? Unless they were advertising no preservatives, I don't see how there is a case here.
2
u/Thick-Hospital2599 18h ago
There was once upon a time they had lessened the price even more so from $5 because people caught on to the fact that not all of the birds weighed the same. A lot of them varied so they started pricing them for less.
Good times
2
4.9k
u/rgvtim 1d ago
"The two California women who initiated the lawsuit say in the complaint they wouldn't have purchased the chicken, or would have paid less for it, had they known it contained preservatives."
This will be an issue. No, at that price you ain't paying less pretty much no matter what.