Costco Wholesale faces a US class action lawsuit alleging undisclosed salmonella risks at a Nebraska chicken plant. The suit claims contamination at the Fremont facility was not disclosed to consumers buying Kirkland Signature rotisserie chicken. Testing data shows high levels of Salmonella in processed chicken. Costco sells rotisserie chicken as a loss-leading item to attract customers. The lawsuit seeks compensatory and triple damages for affected consumers.

The lawsuit alleges Costco’s Nebraska plant consistently fails USDA safety standards. Over 9.8% of whole chickens and 15.4% of chicken parts processed there were positive for Salmonella. Costco reported global rotisserie chicken sales exceeding 157 million units in 2025. Another class action was filed in San Diego federal court last month. Costco also took legal action against the Trump administration over tariff collections.

The lawsuit, filed by Lisa Taylor of Missouri, claims she overpaid for Costco rotisserie chickens due to undisclosed contamination risks. It alleges breaches of Washington consumer protection laws and an implied assurance of chicken safety. Costco’s first-quarter net sales for fiscal 2026 were $65.98bn, up 8.2% from the previous year. The retailer is seeking to recover duties paid under global import taxes.

Read more at Yahoo Finance: Costco hit by US class action over salmonella risk claims