Costco has issued a voluntary recall for one of its bakery items after discovering a packaging error that could pose serious health risks to individuals with nut allergies. The product in question, sold under the name “Mini Beignets filled with Caramel,” was incorrectly packaged with a chocolate hazelnut filling.
The recall highlights the growing importance of accurate food labeling, especially where allergens are concerned. For consumers with sensitivities to specific ingredients, undisclosed allergens can lead to potentially dangerous reactions, making transparency not just a regulatory matter, but a public safety issue.
Packaging Mix-up Leads to Allergen Alert across Multiple States
Costco confirmed that the issue affects units of its Mini Beignets filled with Caramel, which were found to actually contain a Chocolate Hazelnut filling. According to a company statement, the mislabeled pastries “contain undeclared Tree Nuts,” specifically hazelnuts or filberts, posing a risk to consumers with nut allergies.
The recall applies to products purchased between January 16 and January 30, across 22 states. These include Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington.
“If you are allergic to Hazelnuts/Filberts, do not consume this product,” Costco stated in its official notice. “Please return it to Costco for a full refund.” The company has not reported any allergic reactions or hospitalizations related to the mislabeling as of the time of the recall.
Food mislabeling involving allergens has been a repeated concern within the retail industry, with recalls becoming more common as regulations tighten. According to FDA guidelines, tree nuts are among the most common allergens required to be clearly declared on packaged food labels. This incident underscores the risks when such protocols fail.
Legal Pressure Mounts over Separate Advertising Claims
The recall was issued just days after Costco became the subject of a class-action lawsuit regarding the advertising of its popular Kirkland Signature Seasoned Rotisserie Chicken. According to court filings reviewed by FOX Business, the lawsuit alleges that Costco misrepresented the product as “preservative-free” in both in-store signage and on its website.
The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, claims that the rotisserie chicken actually contains two preservatives, sodium phosphate and carrageenan, despite marketing that implies otherwise. Plaintiffs Anatasia Chernov and Bianca Johnston argue that these ingredients were not clearly disclosed and that consumers were misled into believing the product was free of such additives.
“The presence of sodium phosphate and carrageenan, added preservatives which function as such in the Rotisserie Chicken, contradict the overall net impression that Costco’s ‘No Preservatives’ representations and advertising create,” the lawsuit states.
According to Wesley Griffith, managing partner at the Almeida Law Group and attorney for the plaintiffs, “Consumers reasonably rely on clear, prominent claims like ‘No Preservatives,’ especially when deciding what they and their families will eat.” The plaintiffs are seeking legal remedy for what they argue was deceptive marketing.
While Costco has not yet publicly responded to the lawsuit, the dual challenges (product mislabeling and a legal complaint) come at a time when food safety and consumer transparency are under intensified scrutiny.
