Costco shoppers know that feeling when you walk into the warehouse and grab those giant packages, thinking you’ve scored the deal of the century. But what happens when those deals turn sour? Over the past few years, Costco has dealt with some pretty serious recalls that had people rushing back to return their purchases. From contaminated fish to moldy bread, these aren’t just minor inconveniences. Some of these recalls involved bacteria that could actually make you sick, while others were just products that went bad way too fast. Understanding what went wrong can help you shop smarter and know what to watch out for next time you’re loading up your cart.
Kirkland tuna poke got pulled from 33 states
That ready-to-eat tuna poke from the deli section seemed like such a convenient dinner option until the FDA stepped in with an urgent warning. Back in September 2025, Western United Fish Company recalled over 3,300 pounds of Kirkland Signature Ahi Tuna Wasabi Poke because of possible Listeria contamination. The problem started with green onions used in the product, which tested positive for the dangerous bacteria. Shoppers across Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin were all affected.
Listeria isn’t something to mess around with because it can cause serious infections in young kids, elderly people, and anyone with a weakened immune system. For pregnant women, it’s even scarier since it can lead to miscarriages or stillbirths. The recalled tuna poke had a sell-by date of September 22, 2025, and came in clear plastic clamshell containers. If you bought it, you were supposed to throw it out immediately and head back to Costco for a full refund. The scary part is that at the time of the recall, no illnesses had been reported yet, but the company didn’t want to take any chances. The fish company collaborated with its green onion supplier to determine the cause of the issue.
Fresh produce goes bad faster than you expect
Buying those giant containers of berries or bags of apples seems like a great idea until you get home and realize half of them are already moldy. Fresh produce is one of the most frequently returned items at Costco, and it’s not hard to see why. The short shelf life means that sometimes what looked perfect in the store turns into a science experiment in your fridge within days. People have complained about finding mold on berries, soft spots on apples, and even rotten watermelons that looked fine from the outside. The problem gets worse when you can’t see all the items clearly through the packaging, so you don’t discover the bad stuff until you’re already home.
There have even been serious produce recalls at Costco, like the berry recall in 2019 that sent over 70 people to the hospital because of Hepatitis A concerns. The best way to avoid this problem is to really examine your produce before you put it in your cart. Check the expiration dates and make sure they’re not coming up too soon. Look for any visible signs of mold or rot, especially on the items you can’t see clearly. Even with all these precautions, sometimes produce just goes bad faster than expected. The good news is that Costco’s 100% satisfaction guarantee means you can return rotten produce without any hassle, even if you already opened the package.
Dairy products show up sour or moldy
Opening a gallon of milk only to smell something funky is never a good start to your day, especially when the expiration date is still weeks away. Dairy products are another category that gets returned to Costco all the time. The main problems people run into are milk that’s already soured, cheese that’s growing mold, and yogurt containers that have issues. Some customers have found that their milk goes bad way before the date on the carton, which raises questions about how it was stored or transported. Leaking packages are another common complaint because nobody wants milk spilling all over their car or fridge, and it also makes you wonder if bacteria got inside through the broken seal.
Costco has dealt with some major yogurt problems too. In 2024, there was a recall for moldy Kirkland Signature Greek yogurt, and before that, one of the biggest Costco recalls ever happened in 2023 when yogurt contained undeclared eggs that could cause allergic reactions. If you discover that your dairy products have unsealed packaging, it’s definitely worth returning them because you can’t be sure they’re safe to eat. One Costco employee even suggested taking a picture of leaking milk cartons before dumping them out, so you don’t have to drive back to the store with milk sloshing around your trunk. Always check the seals on your dairy products before leaving the store, and give them a sniff test when you get home.
Costco nuts taste burned or stale
Nuts might seem like they’d last forever, but Costco shoppers have discovered that’s not always the case. People have returned nuts for tasting burned, stale, bitter, or downright rancid. Kirkland pistachios have gotten complaints about being overcooked, while pecan halves have been too dry with a weird texture that nobody wants to eat. Walnuts seem to have the most issues, with many people saying they taste off or have that telltale bitter flavor that means they’ve gone bad. When walnuts oxidize, they turn darker and develop an unpleasant taste, which is why buying them with shells on is usually better if you can find them that way somewhere else.
Even more disturbing than bad-tasting nuts is finding worms or signs of insect infestation in your almonds, mixed nuts, or cashews. This is pretty rare, but it does happen occasionally. Considering that Costco sells half of the world’s cashews, it’s almost inevitable that some bad batches slip through quality control sometimes. The company moves so much product that catching every single problem is nearly impossible. If your nuts taste weird or look questionable, don’t try to convince yourself they’re fine. Just take them back for a refund because eating rancid nuts isn’t worth the stomach upset, and you definitely don’t want to risk eating anything with bugs in it.
Kirkland protein bars don’t agree with everyone
Grabbing a box of protein bars seems like a smart move for quick snacks, but Kirkland’s version has earned a reputation for being one of the most returned items. The main complaint is that they just don’t taste good. The texture is off, the flavor is weird, and they leave a lot to be desired compared to other brands. One writer who tried five different Costco snack bars ranked the Kirkland protein bar as the absolute worst. Beyond the taste issue, these bars have a lot of fiber, which causes digestive problems for some people. One person on social media mentioned that their Costco cashier had processed so many returns of this particular product that they didn’t even need an explanation anymore.
Other protein bars at Costco get returned too, like the Bear Naked almond butter bars that some people find unpleasant. While taste is definitely subjective, and some folks love these bars, enough people dislike them that they’ve become known as frequent returns. The good news is that Costco’s return policy is generous enough that you can bring back food items even if there’s nothing technically wrong with them except that you don’t like how they taste. This makes trying new products less risky because you’re not stuck with a giant box of something gross if it doesn’t work out for you.
Meat packages smell or taste wrong
Nothing ruins dinner plans faster than opening a package of meat and getting hit with a smell that tells you something’s not right. Costco shoppers have returned bacon that tasted off, ground turkey with feathers still in it, and marinated skirt steak that somehow got way too much sugar added during preparation. Sometimes the meat looks fine in the store, passes the expiration date check, and seems perfectly normal until you get it home and cook it. That’s when the weird smells or tastes become obvious. Even if the best-by date hasn’t passed yet, your nose and taste buds are usually pretty good at detecting when meat has started to spoil.
The feathers in the ground turkey and the overly sweet marinade on the steak both seem like one-time mistakes from particular batches, but they show that human error happens even at big retailers. If you accidentally buy expired meat and only discover it after something smells wrong, definitely return it and let the store know so they can pull any remaining packages off the shelf. Always check expiration dates before you buy, and when you get home, give your meat a good sniff test before cooking it. If anything seems questionable, it’s better to return it than risk getting sick from spoiled meat. Your gut instinct is usually right when it comes to whether food is safe to eat.
Fish smells bad before the date expires
Fish is one product that’ll let you know immediately if something’s wrong because the smell is unmistakable. Costco customers have reported returning stinky Chilean sea bass, frozen mahi that tasted weird, lox that clearly wasn’t fresh anymore, and salmon that smelled off. With fish often carrying high price tags, people aren’t shy about bringing it back when it seem like it might be spoiled. One family even discovered worms coming to the surface of their sea bass when they started cooking it, which is absolutely disgusting and definitely grounds for an immediate return. The smell isn’t the only warning sign to watch for, either.
Cloudy eyes, slimy texture, discoloration, and weak bones that break easily are all signs that your fish has gone bad. Because Costco’s return policy is so generous, there’s no reason to take chances with questionable fish. If you have any doubts about whether your fish is fresh, just return it and get your money back. Fresh fish should smell like the ocean, not like something died in your fridge. The texture should be firm, not mushy or slimy. Don’t try to convince yourself that maybe it’s fine or that cooking it thoroughly will fix the problem. Bad fish can make you seriously sick, and it’s just not worth the risk when you can easily return it for a full refund.
Bagels and bread develop mold within days
Buying a dozen bagels or a loaf of bread at Costco seems like it should last you a while, but many shoppers have found mold growing on their bakery items within just a few days. The clear packaging should help you spot problems before buying, but sometimes mold doesn’t develop until after you get the product home. The main issue with Costco’s bakery bagels is that they don’t contain the preservatives that most commercial brands use. While this might sound healthier, it also means they go bad much faster. Some people have experienced moldy bagels even in dry climates where you’d think moisture wouldn’t be as much of a problem.
Rather than constantly returning moldy bagels and bread, many Costco shoppers have figured out a solution: freeze them as soon as you get home. This way, you can pull out what you need and let it thaw, while the rest stays fresh in the freezer for weeks or even months. If you don’t want to freeze your bagels, at least check them carefully every day for any signs of mold. Once you spot any fuzzy growth, throw out the whole package because mold spreads through bread even when you can’t see it yet. The lack of preservatives means you need to be more vigilant about checking your bakery items and eating them quickly or freezing them right away.
Rotisserie chicken raises salmonella concerns
That famous $4.99 rotisserie chicken is one of Costco’s most popular items, but recent reports have raised some serious questions about whether it’s actually safe to eat. A study by a nonprofit organization called Farm Forward found that chickens from Lincoln Premium Poultry, which supplies Costco’s birds, had salmonella levels much higher than federal safety limits. This is concerning because salmonella is a bacteria that can make you really sick if the chicken isn’t handled or cooked properly. The USDA had announced reforms to protect consumers against Salmonella in 2022, but these reforms were rolled back in 2025, which doesn’t help the situation at all.
Beyond the bacteria concerns, there have also been reports about conditions at the poultry facility where Costco’s chickens come from. An undercover investigation found that birds were kept in overcrowded spaces that led to injuries. Both Costco and Lincoln Premium Poultry responded by saying they’re committed to high standards of animal welfare and ethical practices throughout their supply chain. Lincoln Premium Poultry specifically stated that safety is its biggest concern. Despite these issues being brought to light, Costco continues selling the rotisserie chicken at the same low price. Shoppers who are aware of the Farm Forward study might think twice before buying one, even though it’s such a cheap and convenient option for feeding a family.
Shopping at Costco usually feels like you’re getting amazing deals on quality products, but these recalls and returns show that even big warehouse stores aren’t perfect. The key is staying alert and checking your products carefully before you buy them and again when you get home. Don’t hesitate to use Costco’s generous return policy if something seems off, because it exists to protect you from wasting money on bad products. Whether it’s moldy produce, sour milk, or questionable meat, returning items that aren’t right is better than trying to use them anyway and regretting it later. Keep these common problem products in mind next time you’re shopping, and you’ll be better prepared to spot issues before they end up in your cart.
