Costco is known for offering its customers a deal when it comes to food (especially when buying in bulk). But the chain is being sued over its $5 rotisserie chickens.
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Sold for only $4.99, the freshly roasted birds certainly seem like a steal, especially in the current cash-strapped economy. But two California customers are suing Costco over the labeling on the fowl. They claim that the grocery chain misled shoppers.
You see, Costco reportedly markets the Kirkland Signature Seasoned Rotisserie Chicken as having "no preservatives." However, California customers Bianca Johnston and Anastasia Chernov claim this simply isn't true.
Costco Sued
According to the proposed class-action lawsuit, the ingredient list for the rotisserie chickens includes sodium phosphate and carrageenan. The lawsuit argues that these two ingredients function as preservatives, making the claim of "no preservatives" a lie.
The two filed a lawsuit on January 22 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. The lawsuit alleges that customers will be fooled by the big lettering. According to the plaintiffs, many will likely not check the ingredient list to realize that's not the case.
A spokesperson for Costco told The New York Post, "To maintain consistency among the labeling on our rotisserie chickens and the signs in our warehouses/on-line presentations, we have removed statements concerning preservatives from the signs and online presentations."
They continued, "We use carrageenan and sodium phosphate to support moisture retention, texture, and product consistency during cooking. Both ingredients are approved by food safety authorities."
On average, the company sells more than 100 million rotisserie chickens a year, so there's a lot at stake with this potential lawsuit. The lawsuit proclaimed, "Consumers reasonably rely on clear, prominent claims like 'No Preservatives'..."
However, not everyone appears bothered by the chicken. One Redditor tastefully put it like this, "That chicken is 5 bucks... I don't care." But if you do care about preservatives in your food, perhaps check the ingredients list next time you're shopping. Educate yourself on what each means and be an informed shopper. We'll see what becomes of the lawsuit as it continues in court.
