Costco Faces Lawsuit Over Salmonella Concerns in Rotisserie Chicken

• The Fremont, Nebraska plant 'consistently' fails USDA standards, with salmonella found in 9.8% of whole chickens and 15.4% of chicken parts according to the complaint
• Plaintiff seeks compensatory and triple damages for customers who purchased Kirkland Signature rotisserie or raw chicken since January 1, 2019, citing violations of Washington consumer protection laws
• This is the second recent lawsuit against Costco's chicken products, following a January suit claiming false advertising over preservatives in rotisserie chickens

Costco Faces Lawsuit Over Salmonella Concerns in Rotisserie Chicken

Costco is confronting a proposed class action lawsuit alleging salmonella contamination at its chicken processing plant in Fremont, Nebraska. Filed Thursday in Seattle federal court by animal rights nonprofit Farm Forward, the complaint claims the facility "consistently" fails U.S. Department of Agriculture safety standards, with contamination rates of 9.8% in whole chickens and 15.4% in chicken parts.

Key Financial Details:

• Costco sold 157 million rotisserie chickens worldwide in 2025
• The popular Kirkland Signature rotisserie chicken is priced at $4.99
• The product functions as a loss-leader to drive customer traffic to warehouses

Legal Claims:

Plaintiff Lisa Taylor of Missouri, who purchased one to two rotisserie chickens monthly, alleges she overpaid due to undisclosed contamination risks. The lawsuit seeks compensatory and triple damages for customers who purchased Kirkland Signature rotisserie and raw chicken since January 1, 2019, citing violations of Washington consumer protection laws and breach of implied safety promises.

Market Context:

This marks the second recent lawsuit against Costco's rotisserie chicken program. A separate class action filed last month in San Diego federal court claimed false advertising regarding preservatives, specifically citing undisclosed carrageenan and sodium phosphate content.

Company Response:

Neither Costco nor the Nebraska processing plant responded to comment requests. The Issaquah, Washington-based retailer has not issued a public statement on the allegations.

The lawsuit poses reputational and financial risks to one of Costco's signature offerings, which serves as a critical customer attraction strategy across its warehouse stores.