![\"Estimated](\"https:\/\/www.delish.com\/_assets\/design-tokens\/fre\/static\/icons\/clock-regular.4ddebeb.svg\")
2 min read<\/span><\/div>\n- \n
- A class action lawsuit filed in Seattle alleges that Costco failed to control Salmonella contamination at its poultry processing plant in Fremont, Nebraska.
<\/li>\n - The plaintiff cites a study by the nonprofit Farm Forward, which found repeated Salmonella contamination at the plant.<\/li>\n
- This is the second lawsuit filed against Costco this year. The first claims that Costco misleadingly labels its rotisserie chickens as preservative-free. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nCostco\u2019s rotisserie chicken is one of the brand\u2019s most iconic products for a reason. Even with sky-high food prices across the country, America\u2019s cheapest grocery store still carries the ready-to-eat protein for just $4.99. But the fan-favorite item has not been immune from scrutiny\u2014and all eyes are on Costco thanks to a new lawsuit.<\/p>\n
A proposed class action lawsuit<\/a> was filed in federal court in Seattle, Washington, on February 12. The plaintiff alleges the company failed to control Salmonella contamination at its poultry processing plant.<\/p>\n
Lincoln Premium Poultry, in Fremont, Nebraska, is a Costco-owned facility at the center of a damning study<\/a> from the nonprofit Farm Forward<\/a>. The study argues that the plant regularly fails federal Salmonella standards and consistently earns the lowest-possible food safety rating from USDA inspections.<\/p>\n
\n \n \n\n![\"pinterest\"](\"https:\/\/www.delish.com\/_assets\/design-tokens\/fre\/static\/icons\/social\/pinterest.e8cf655.svg?primary=%2523ffffff\")
<\/div>\nUCG<\/span>\/\/<\/span>Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n Farm Forward claims that more than one in 10 whole chickens processed at this plant are contaminated with Salmonella and subsequently distributed to warehouses nationwide. In the same study, the nonprofit dedicated to ending factory farming accuses Costco of subjecting both animals and employees to inhumane conditions. <\/p>\n
The plaintiff, Lisa Taylor of Affton, Missouri, filed the lawsuit on behalf of all customers who have purchased rotisserie chicken and raw chicken parts since the plant\u2019s opening in 2019. The suit seeks compensatory and triple damages for the \u201ceconomic injury\u201d caused by overpaying for potentially contaminated poultry. <\/p>\n
And with over 157 million rotisserie chickens <\/a>sold globally in 2025 alone, many members may be entitled to a settlement. <\/p>\n
\n \n\n<\/div>\nUCG<\/span>\/\/<\/span>Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n This is not the only legal battle Costco is fighting. Just last month, another class action lawsuit was filed against the warehouse for misleading labeling. The plaintiffs in that suit argue that the ingredients contain sodium phosphate and carrageenan, despite the chicken being marketed as \u201cpreservative-free.\u201d In a statement to <\/a>USA Today<\/a>, <\/em>Costco said it has removed the signage suggesting the chicken did not contain preservatives. \u201cWe use carrageenan and sodium phosphate to support moisture retention, texture, and product consistency during cooking,\u201d Costco said. \u201cBoth ingredients are approved by food safety authorities.\u201d <\/p>\n
Costco\u2019s legal troubles are continuing to mount, threatening the reputation of one of its most notable loss leaders.<\/p>\n