Costco Is Facing a Class-Action Lawsuit Over Its Rotisserie Chicken

Costco is known for plenty of prepared meals and bulk staples, but there’s one item in particular that’s synonymous with the wholesale grocer: the $5 Kirkland Signature Rotisserie Chicken. Not only is the bird a convenient base for plenty of meals, it’s budget-friendly and simply delicious. But, according to a recent lawsuit, the rotisserie chicken may be too good to be true. 

Costco’s Rotisserie Chicken Label Misleads Shoppers, According to New Lawsuit

Costco’s beloved rotisserie chicken is under fire yet again, as the company is being sued in a proposed class-action lawsuit that claims the retailer falsely advertised the Kirkland Signature item as containing no preservatives.

The lawsuit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California on Jan. 22, claims that both Costco’s website and its in-store signage falsely “create an overall net impression that the Rotisserie Chicken does not contain added preservatives.”

According to the lawsuit, this marketing is allegedly false, as Costco’s Rotisserie Chicken contains two added preservatives: sodium phosphate and carrageenan.

Furthermore, the claims argue that the preservative ingredients, if disclosed at all, were only featured in small print on the label without explanation of their function. Plaintiffs believe this isn’t enough to counter Costco’s prominent claims of “no preservatives” in marketing materials for the rotisserie chickens. 

And, since the chain sells more than 157 million rotisserie chickens annually, the lawsuit also claims that Costco “has systemically cheated customers out of tens—if not hundreds—of millions of dollars by falsely advertising its Kirkland Signature Seasoned Rotisserie Chicken as containing ‘no preservatives.'”

While there’s no ruling yet, the case is in progress and could be headed to court. For now, if you’re concerned about the potential presence of preservatives in Costco’s rotisserie chicken, you can always pick up a Kirkland Signature Lasagna for dinner, instead.