Costco shoppers 'disgusted' with changes to fan-favorite Kirkland dinner staple
Shoppers are taking to Reddit to complain about what they describe as 'woody' chicken breasts: pieces of meat that are unusually firm, rubbery, or chewy.
While the issue isn't exclusive to Costco, the warehouse chain is catching heat for it online.
'After 20+ years of chicken breasts being a staple in my diet, Costco's woody breasts have ruined chicken for me. It's almost a phobia now,' a Redditor wrote.
'I'm in IL and stopped buying chicken breasts at Costco over a year ago because too many of them were nasty,' a shopper responded.
Reddit users said that woody chicken is 'fairly common' in the US.
'It's from meat chickens being bred to grow too big too fast causing abnormal muscle and fiber development,' a Reddit user explained.
'It's still edible. though not very palatable or visually appealing.'
Customers recently accused Costco of shrinkflation after discovering differences in its new cookie varieties
Others blamed corporate farming practices, claiming chickens raised in stressful environments produce inferior meat.
'Egg farmer here.. the meat came from a caged and neglected chicken. Unable to move around, living in darkness, causes incredible stress to the chicken making the meat mushy.
'Chickens allowed to be outside and free to walk around, scratch and forage have superior meat quality. This is corporate farming.'
The backlash is just the latest food-related drama for Costco. The retailer was recently criticized for switching its popular rotisserie chicken packaging from plastic containers to bags.
Its Kirkland muffins also drew complaints after a recipe and size change. There was also shrinkflation accusations after a new cookie variety came with 21 instead of the normal 24 in a pack.
And last year, some fans slammed its food court's Chicken Bakes for tasting different — and smaller.
It has even emerged that Costco fans hate its toilet paper, which they described as: 'Absolute garbage'.
Experts say all this been a factor in the end of Costco's reign as the top-rated grocery store for customer satisfaction
Several Reddit users who left harsh comments explained why chicken becomes woody
Despite the criticism of the chicken breasts, and other popular items, shoppers are raving about other top-sellers.
One new item flying off shelves is the $13.99 Kirkland 12-pack of Helles-Style Lager, which went on sale in November.
'It's incredible, the cost-to-value is insane on this beer,' Costco shopper Taylor Vavra told the Wall Street Journal.
Until now, Costco has struggled to make a beer that its shoppers liked.
Shoppers have also been rushing to purchase a Carrot Mini Sheet Cake after Reddit users spotted it in stores last week.
The cake, which costs between $5.49 and $5.99 per package, will only be available in stores for a limited time.
'WOW! I just tried this for the first time. The cream cheese frosting is UNREAL. This may be the best out of all the mini sheet cakes,' a shopper wrote on Reddit.
'I went last night and picked one up. Just cut a good slice out, ate it and found it to be absolutely delicious,' a commenter added.
Besides its chicken breasts, customers have had problems with its Kirkland rotisserie chicken
Despite the drama, Costco remains on a hot streak. The company raked in $254 billion in revenue last year and just posted $62.53 billion in second-quarter net sales — a 9.1 percent jump from the same time in 2023.
It is planning to open a dozen new stores in the US this year.
The first round of stores has already opened in California, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Texas.
Its newest store will open in Stuart, Florida, on Friday, although because of locals opposing it, the store has been dubbed Costco's most controversial.
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