What Montana Shoppers Should Know About Costco Chicken
If you’re the type to have ever strolled into Costco for “just one thing” and left with a flatbed cart brimming with groceries, including a rotisserie chicken safely cradled under one arm, then this might not surprise you. That bird is here to stay. It has become a delicacy in Montana.
Now it’s the focus of a lawsuit.
Costco Faces Lawsuit Over Allegations of False Advertising
A new class action lawsuit is saying that Costco misled consumers by labeling its seasoned rotisserie chicken as having “no preservatives,” even though the ingredient label includes sodium phosphate and carrageenan. Those ingredients serve as preservatives, and that, according to the suit, is deceptive to consumers.
What the Lawsuit Claims
Two consumers from California say they relied on the “no preservatives” label when purchasing Costco’s rotisserie chicken and later discovered the ingredients list included sodium phosphate and carrageenan. While those ingredients are allowed in food, the lawsuit argues they function as preservatives by maintaining moisture and enhancing texture.
Costco’s position is pretty straightforward. The company says those ingredients are used for quality and consistency, not preservation, and that they meet food safety standards. Costco has also reportedly removed mentions of “no preservatives” from signage and online listings.
So this isn’t about food safety. It’s a question of labeling, definition, and whether shoppers were misled.
Why Montanans Care More Than You’d Expect
Montana has Costco locations in Billings, Missoula, Helena, Bozeman, and Kalispell. And if you’ve been to any of them around the time of day when people start thinking about dinner, you already know.
Those rotisserie chickens take a beating.
The Gray Area Here
This case lives in the gray area between marketing language and consumer expectations. Some people hear “no preservatives” and think zero additives, period. That gap is where lawsuits like this tend to live.
If you’re still grabbing that chicken on your way out, you’re probably not alone. Just maybe don’t treat it like a health halo.
And if nothing else, the next time you’re standing there waiting for a fresh batch to come out, you’ll have something new to argue about while that lid fogs up.