Costco Faces Lawsuits Over Alleged Salmonella in Rotisserie Chicken

Lawsuits claim Costco failed to control contamination at its Nebraska poultry plant and misled customers about preservatives in its rotisserie chickens.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Costco is facing two class action lawsuits related to its popular rotisserie chicken products. One lawsuit alleges the company failed to control Salmonella contamination at its poultry processing plant in Fremont, Nebraska, while another claims Costco misleadingly marketed its rotisserie chickens as preservative-free. The lawsuits seek compensation for customers who purchased potentially contaminated or mislabeled chicken products.

Why it matters

Costco's rotisserie chicken is one of the company's most iconic and popular items, known for its low $4.99 price point. These lawsuits threaten to tarnish the reputation of this key loss leader product and raise concerns about Costco's food safety and transparency practices.

The details

The first lawsuit, filed in Seattle, alleges that Costco's Fremont, Nebraska poultry plant, operated by Costco-owned Lincoln Premium Poultry, regularly fails federal Salmonella standards and receives the lowest food safety ratings from USDA inspections. A study by the nonprofit Farm Forward claims over 10% of whole chickens processed at the plant are contaminated with Salmonella. The second lawsuit claims Costco misleadingly marketed its rotisserie chickens as 'preservative-free' when they actually contain sodium phosphate and carrageenan.

  • The first lawsuit was filed on February 12, 2026.
  • The second lawsuit was filed just last month.

The players

Lisa Taylor

The plaintiff who filed the class action lawsuit in Seattle on behalf of customers who purchased Costco rotisserie chicken and raw chicken parts since the Fremont, Nebraska plant opened in 2019.

Costco

The retail warehouse chain facing the two class action lawsuits related to its popular rotisserie chicken products.

Lincoln Premium Poultry

The Costco-owned poultry processing plant in Fremont, Nebraska that is at the center of the Salmonella contamination allegations.

Farm Forward

The nonprofit organization that conducted a study alleging repeated Salmonella contamination and inhumane conditions at Costco's Fremont, Nebraska poultry plant.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.