Costco’s decision to stop selling chicken salad in their stores came as a surprise to many loyal customers. Chicken salad has long been a popular grab-and-go lunch item for people shopping at Costco. But food safety concerns prompted Costco to pull all remaining chicken salad from store shelves in November 2015.
When did Costco stop selling chicken salad?
Costco quietly stopped selling pre-made chicken salad sandwiches and wraps in all of its U.S. stores starting on November 20, 2015. The company did not make a public announcement about the decision. Customers showed up looking to purchase chicken salad only to find signs stating that it was unavailable. Postings on social media by customers indicated that chicken salad was being pulled from store shelves in many locations across the United States in late November.
Why did Costco remove chicken salad from its stores?
Costco made the decision to stop selling chicken salad due to concerns over foodborne illness. Testing of Costco’s rotisserie and prepared chicken products by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service found traces of E. coli bacteria. Although no illnesses had been reported, Costco opted to be cautious and immediately suspended sales of any items containing chicken from the affected batches.
Costco executives made the difficult decision to halt chicken salad production until the source of the bacterial contamination could be found and proper corrections implemented. Despite no reports of E. coli infection, they did not want to take risks with customers’ health.
When did the E. coli contamination happen?
The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service reported finding E. coli bacteria in a sample of Costco’s rotisserie chicken and prepared chicken products during routine testing on October 25, 2015. The contamination likely affected products produced between October 6-25 in the San Diego processing facility.
Once the USDA reported its findings to Costco the following week, Costco immediately launched an aggressive investigation to determine the source. But with no easy answers immediately found, Costco corporate leaders decided on November 20th to be cautious and stop selling all chicken products from that facility until the problem was firmly identified and resolved.
What strains of E. coli bacteria were found?
The USDA testing found strains of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli bacteria (STEC). There are many strains of STEC, including E. coli O157:H7 and others. These Shiga toxin-producing E. coli strains can cause severe illness and complications. The specific E. coli strains found in the Costco chicken were not publicly identified.
What are the risks of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli bacteria?
While most strains of E. coli bacteria are harmless, some like STEC can lead to serious illness. According to the CDC, symptoms of STEC infection include:
- Severe stomach cramps
- Diarrhea (often bloody)
- Vomiting
- Fever
STEC infections typically clear up within 5-7 days. But a complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) can occur and cause the kidneys to fail. HUS mainly impacts young children and accounts for the majority of STEC-related deaths.
What did Costco do after finding E. coli bacteria?
Costco responded swiftly once the USDA reported discovering E. coli bacteria present in samples of prepared chicken products:
- Launched immediate investigation to find contamination source
- Increased thoroughness of already stringent sanitation procedures
- Suspended production of fresh chicken products at San Diego facility
- Recalled over 2 million pounds of chicken products produced from October 6-23
- Halted sales of chicken salad and other items containing chicken from affected batches
Costco demonstrated responsibility by taking decisive action and not waiting to act until customers reported illnesses.
What products did Costco recall due to E. coli contamination?
Costco recalled over 2.5 million pounds of chicken products processed at the company’s San Diego facility during dates when contamination may have occurred. Recalled products included:
- Rotisserie chicken products
- Chicken salad sandwiches
- Chicken salad wraps
- Chicken Caesar salad
- Chicken pot pie
Any prepared chicken products made between October 6-23 from the San Diego facility were pulled from store shelves as a precaution. Costco also halted future production until addressing the problem.
Were any illnesses linked to the recalled chicken products?
No. Costco’s recall was a purely precautionary measure since no reports of sickness surfaced. But the company opted to lose millions in recalled inventory to protect customers against potential health risks.
How did Costco notify customers about the recall?
Costco used several methods to inform customers who may have purchased the recalled chicken items, including:
- Posting recall notices in all Costco warehouse stores
- Listing information on the Costco website
- Providing details to local media outlets
- Alerting public health agencies
- Sharing through social media channels
Despite multi-channel communications, the recall still caught many shoppers by surprise since Costco stayed quiet until pulling chicken salad from shelves.
How did the public react to Costco’s chicken recall?
Reactions from Costco shoppers were mixed:
- Many loyal customers applauded the decision to be overly cautious and protect public health.
- Some questioned why chicken salad needed recalled if no one reported illness.
- Those wanting refunds on recalled chicken had a cumbersome process due to lack of receipts.
- Shoppers expressed disappointment at losing access to a favorite quick meal option.
- Concerns arose over how many might have consumed contaminated chicken before recall.
Overall Costco suffered minimal backlash, reflecting confidence in how the company handles food safety issues.
Was it difficult to get a refund for recalled chicken products?
Yes, getting refunds proved tricky for some Costco customers seeking to return recalled chicken items. Costco required customers to present receipts showing purchase dates in order to receive refunds. Since many consumers fail to keep small shopping receipts, they lacked proof of buying the recalled products. Costco made exceptions by looking up purchase records for some members who complained.
How long did it take for Costco chicken salad to return?
Costco resumed selling fresh chicken salad in stores after a 5 month hiatus. Chicken salad returned to shelves in April 2016 once enhanced safety procedures were put in place. Costco took the following steps before feeling ready to sell chicken salad again:
- Completely cleaned and sanitized equipment
- Established new protocols for handling and processing chicken
- Instituted high-volume x-ray inspection to detect foreign matter
- Improved worker training on food safety practices
- Began thoroughly washing all chickens prior to cooking
The updated processing standards allowed Costco to bring chicken salad back while giving customers confidence in its safety.
What food safety changes did Costco implement?
| Old Process | New Safety Process |
|---|---|
| Minimal chicken washing | Thorough washing & scrubbing of all chicken |
| Standard metal detection | High-volume x-ray inspection |
| Basic employee training | Enhanced food safety education |
| Sanitize tools daily | Clean & sanitize equipment between batches |
Did foodborne illness result from the contaminated chicken?
No foodborne illnesses were conclusively linked to the E. coli contamination of Costco chicken products. Costco’s preemptive recall likely prevented sicknesses by removing the compromised products from consumer pantries before consumption.
The aggressive recall was praised by food safety experts for putting public health ahead of profits. Costco’s measures likely prevented an outbreak and potential hospitalizations from occurring.
How many foodborne illness cases happen each year?
The CDC estimates that 48 million Americans get sick from foodborne diseases annually. Of these cases:
- 128,000 are hospitalized
- 3,000 result in death
The most common foodborne illnesses are salmonella, E. coli, listeria, and campylobacter. Good food safety practices reduce risk and prevent possibly deadly outbreaks.
Did the chicken recall hurt Costco’s reputation?
Despite having to halt chicken salad production for over 5 months, the recall did minimal damage to Costco’s brand reputation. Customers recognized that Costco placed concerns over public health ahead of profits. The transparency over the recall built trust in how seriously Costco takes food safety.
Rather than hurt the company, Costco earned praise for its handling of the situation. Its proactive and decisive response demonstrated good corporate citizenship.
How did Costco demonstrate corporate social responsibility?
Costco exhibited corporate social responsibility and values-driven leadership with its actions, including:
- Recalling chicken products before any reported illnesses
- Absorbing significant recall costs to keep customers safe
- Communicating openly and informing public health agencies
- Suspending production until finding root cause and fixing it
- Establishing improved procedures to prevent future issues
The responsible approach enhanced Costco’s reputation as an ethical company committed to the greater good.
Conclusion
Costco discontinued selling chicken salad for over 5 months in response to finding E. coli contamination during routine testing. Despite no reports of illness, Costco initiated an aggressive recall and facility improvements to address the problem. The company lost millions in recalled inventory but earned praise for prioritizing consumer safety. After implementing enhanced food safety procedures, Costco finally resumed producing fresh chicken salad in April 2016.
The temporary chicken salad recall frustrated many loyal customers but demonstrated Costco’s commitment to responsible corporate citizenship. Costco’s actions upheld its reputation as a trusted brand focused on doing right by its customers and the public.