A federal class action lawsuit was filed last week against Costco, following an investigation by Farm Forward that showed repeated failures to meet federal salmonella standards at the retailer’s chicken plant. The lawsuit was submitted in the US District Court for the Western District of Washington, where Costco’s corporate headquarters are based. It alleges that the company has misled consumers about the safety of its well-known $4.99 rotisserie chicken and raw chicken parts.
The complaint relies heavily on Farm Forward’s recent report, “Inside Costco’s Chicken Supply Chain: Salmonella Contamination and the True Costs of the $4.99 Rotisserie Chicken.,” which revealed that Costco’s Fremont, Nebraska, plant has failed USDA salmonella standards 92% of the time since the plant opened in 2019. The company’s persistent failure to address rampant contamination in its plant shows a disregard for consumer safety, prioritizing profit over public health.
The lawsuit argues that Costco’s marketing has created false expectations of safety among consumers. “Reasonable consumers do not expect that the Costco chicken in their cart has a double-digit percentage chance of containing a dangerous pathogen,” the filing states. The suit demands that Costco change both its marketing and management practices with respect to its chicken supply chain. Costco is uniquely positioned to improve the welfare and quality of chicken, since they are the only US retailer to own their own chicken operation.
This legal action follows Farm Forward’s broader investigation into the USDA’s failure to protect consumers from salmonella, which has revealed similar failures at other major poultry brands. The case is a clear articulation of growing concerns about food safety, transparency, and corporate accountability in the poultry industry.