Costco class action alleges $4.99 rotisserie chickens plagued by Salmonella

Costco class action lawsuit overview:

• Who: Plaintiff Lisa Taylor filed a class action lawsuit against Costco Wholesale Corp.
• Why: Taylor alleges Costco knowingly sold chickens contaminated with Salmonella.
• Where: The Costco chicken class action lawsuit was filed in Washington federal court.

A new Costco class action lawsuit accuses Costco of knowingly selling chickens contaminated with Salmonella, putting consumers at risk of serious illness.

Plaintiff Lisa Taylor claims Costco’s poultry operation has been plagued by systematic Salmonella contamination that exposes consumers to serious health risks.

Taylor argues that U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspection records reveal that Costco’s dedicated chicken-processing plant has failed federal food safety standards nearly continuously since it opened.

“Costco’s aggressive marketing of its chickens as a safe and wholesome meal option belies a starkly different reality,” the Costco class action lawsuit says.

Taylor claims Costco’s Nebraska poultry facility, which supplies its famous rotisserie chickens and Kirkland Signature raw chicken products, has earned the USDA’s worst food safety rating, Category 3, in roughly 92% of reporting periods since 2019.

Taylor wants to represent a class of all persons in the United States who purchased, for personal or household use, any Kirkland Signature branded rotisserie chicken or raw chicken product sold by Costco during the period from Jan. 1, 2019 to the present.

Costco chicken facility failed Salmonella test months on end, class action alleges

Taylor argues Costco’s Nebraska poultry facility failed every single monthly Salmonella test from late 2023 through mid-2025, reflecting “chronic, uncontrolled and unresolved contamination levels.”

“These sustained failures present an elevated risk profile that would be material to consumers purchasing Costco’s chicken products,” the Costco class action lawsuit says.

Taylor claims Costco consciously decided to keep its chicken at the perceived magic $4.99 price point, even if it meant failing to control Salmonella in its chicken supply, which she argues poses a real danger to consumers and violates their trust.

“Costco has prioritized keeping its chickens at $4.99 over ensuring those chickens are safe to eat, all while holding out its poultry to consumers as top-quality and wholesome,” the Costco chicken class action lawsuit says.

Taylor claims Costco is guilty of violating the Washington Consumer Protection Act and of unjust enrichment and breach of implied warranty of merchantability. She demands a jury trial and requests declaratory and injunctive relief and an award of compensatory, treble and restitution damages for herself and all class members.

In a separate lawsuit, Costco is accused of falsely advertising its Kirkland Signature Seasoned Rotisserie Chicken as containing no preservatives, when in fact, the product contains two preservatives: sodium phosphate and carrageenan.

Have you ever purchased Costco’s $4.99 rotisserie chicken? Let us know in the comments.

Taylor is represented by Kaleigh N. Boyd of Tousley Brain Stephens PLLC, Steven A. Schwartz, Beena M. McDonald and Dylan D. Altland of Chimicles Schwartz Kriner & Donaldson-Smith LLP and James J. Rosemergy of Carey, Danis & Lowe.

The Costco chicken class action lawsuit is Lisa Taylor v. Costco Wholesale Corp., Case No. 2:26-cv-00528, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.

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