Complaint Review: Costco

For all those whom are not informed Costco sells 50 million rotisserie chickens per annum. Big business over a 1/4 billion dollars in one item.. They and Pilgrims Pride have a significant stake in their chicken so members become repeat and volume buyers.

What they do not tell you is their vendor Pilgrim Pride's pump injects all these birds with phosphates, sodium derivatives, and other chemicals not discernible or understood to the average member. Your paying for a host of chemicals so that Pilgrims pride can maintain their business with costco for the purpose of measurably advancing the weights, and marketable appearance to golden brown after they roast these feed lot housed poultry. It is very important if anyone in your family or pets has food sensitivities or any allergies for that matter than you have a right to inquire about which and the % of chemicals that are infused into these birds before you buy, and certainly prior to all ingestion.

The solution Pilgrim Pride uses has some nasty items; yeast extract, oleoresin, sodium tripolyphosphate and other "imitation natural flavorings," most of which go towards giving the chicken that crisp, golden skin. Sodium tripolyphosphate can give you a severe migraine that may become lethal if you are allergic. It is utilized in many foods and the severity of food sensitivity largely remains unregulated by the FDA. You'll find it in crabmeat to prevent the bacterial growth known as shingles, and imitation crab meat (kani kama) which is used in various sushi rolls, including California rolls. Oleoresin is an artificial mixture of essential oils and a resin which is added to their solutions for oil and water solubility much like a marinate.The main reason is to improve the quality of and changes of meat and poultry by irradiation via rotisserie. "A dietary yeast extract could be an effective alternative to antibiotics for poultry producers, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture." Pilgrims pride does not need a staff of Vets for their business with costco due to their protocols.

There is no 3rd party unbiased certification to this business so they can collectively shape shift the supply chain and biology to suit their botton line without concern or governance for your health or weighted value exchange.

costco gets you on the perceived value of convenience, and volume of the chicken for their price. These birds are supposed to weigh 3 to 4 lbs and they are required by law, but if you request to weigh them you will discover many come in under 3lbs costco will fight you every step of the way as weights and measures disclosure is governed by your state "so make sure that you are consistently getting what your paying for"... 

costco knows this case-ready product has an unpriced variable weight 'which is left for the retailer to provide final labeling' Don't take this item or their word for granted remember its a 1/4 billion dollar business to them and their wallets are open for deposit.


Buyer beware !!