Overview
- The complaint, filed Jan. 22 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, alleges misleading advertising of Kirkland rotisserie chicken.
- Named plaintiffs Bianca Johnston and Anatasia Chernov say they bought the product in Victorville in 2024 and San Marcos in 2025 based on in-store signs.
- Plaintiffs seek nationwide class certification and accuse Costco of violating consumer-protection laws in California and Washington, citing economic harm potentially worth tens or hundreds of millions of dollars.
- Costco acknowledges using carrageenan and sodium phosphate to retain moisture, texture and consistency, and says the ingredients are approved by food safety authorities.
- The $4.99 chicken sells in excess of 100 million units annually as a traffic-driving loss leader, underscoring the stakes as clean-label expectations shape consumer perceptions.