Costco's $4.99 rotisserie chicken gets roasted in lawsuit. Here's what they're claiming

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Costco’s famed $4.99 rotisserie chicken is under fire in a proposed class action lawsuit claiming that the big box warehouse falsely advertised that its birds were preservative free.Two California shoppers say Costco mislead customers nationwide by prominently advertising its rotisserie chicken as containing no preservatives, while discreetly listing two added preservatives — sodium phosphate and carrageenan — in fine print in the ingredient list.“Costco Wholesale Corporation 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’,” according the complaint filed in California’s Southern District Court on Thursday.Sodium phosphate and carrageenan are common food additives.

Sodium phosphate is used to preserve moisture and enhance flavor in processed foods, while carrageenan is added to thicken and stabilize products like meats.California A new California law will define, for the first time, ultraprocessed foods — and ban ones “of concern” in K-12 schools in the state starting in 2035.Studies have linked excessive sodium phosphate intake to kidney strain and cardiovascular risks, and carrageenan to digestive inflammation and gut irritation.

However, the Food and Drug Administration says both are safe to use at approved levels.Costco did not immediately respond to The Times’ request for comment, but said in a statement to USA Today that it had removed the no preservatives statements in store and online in order to “maintain consistency among the labeling on our rotisserie chickens and the signs in our warehouses/on-line presentations.”The two plaintiffs, Bianca Johnston and Anatasia Chernov, purchased Costco rotisserie chickens at stores in Victorville in 2024 and San Marcos in 2025 believing they were preservative ...