Costco has announced a recall due to mislabeling of some bakery items, which may pose allergy risks to customers. The affected product, “Mini Beignets with Caramel,” was incorrectly packaged with “Mini Beignets with Chocolate Hazelnut.” This mix-up means that some units contain tree nuts that weren’t disclosed on the label.
The company advises anyone with a hazelnut allergy to refrain from consuming the product and to return it for a full refund. This recall affects purchases made between January 16 and January 30 across several states, including California, Florida, and New York, among others.
In a related note, just days after the recall, Costco faced a class action lawsuit. This legal action claims that Costco misled customers about its Kirkland Signature Seasoned Rotisserie Chicken by advertising it as containing no preservatives. According to the lawsuit filed last week in California, promotional materials and signage imply that the chicken is preservative-free, yet it contends that sodium phosphate and carrageenan, both preservatives, are indeed used in the chicken.
The lawsuit underscores that customers, including the plaintiffs, made purchasing decisions based on the assumption that the chicken was free from preservatives, which were only disclosed in fine print on the packaging. The argument is that these disclosures did not adequately contradict Costco’s prominent claims of being preservative-free.
The plaintiffs assert that Costco possesses greater knowledge of the ingredients’ nature and did not adequately inform consumers. Wesley Griffith, the managing partner at Almeida Law Group, expressed that consumers depend on clear claims like “no preservatives” when making food choices for themselves and their families.
