For years, Costco’s famous rotisserie chicken was almost as popular as their $1.50 hot dog combo (despite a chef’s claim that the chicken is “inedible”). In fact, the warehouse store recently rolled out a brand new Southwest Rotisserie Chicken Wrap in the refrigerator section.
But in recent months, it’s seemed that Costco’s cult following has turned against this once-beloved item due to a number of issues, including a peculiar “chemical taste.” Now, reported stomach issues are the latest complaint. Find all the details below.
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Costco Customers Report Stomach Issues from Rotisserie Chicken
Complaints surrounding Costco's rotisserie chicken first started in the spring, when Reddit users began reporting that the chicken tasted a little off; many said it tasted like chemicals. This taste was eventually linked back to phosphates that helped preserve the food, which can taste like chemicals to some people.
But now there's a new issue: the chicken is upsetting people's stomachs. Word about these negative effects started to spread about two months ago. One user in the Costco subreddit said: "The rotisserie chicken gives us diarrhea every single time."
"I have this problem with the rotisserie chickens too," someone responded.
"This chicken upsets my stomach," another agreed, calling out the chemical taste again: "I feel like I taste chemicals in the brine or something."
Some commenters offered a few possible explanations. The most likely one is the fact that Costco rotisserie chickens contain a thickening agent called carrageenan, which can cause stomach issues in some people (just as the phosphates can taste strange to some).
If you experience issues like diarrhea, bloating, and cramps after consuming Costco chicken or other foods and beverages containing carrageenan, you could have a common intolerance. This ingredient, as some commenters pointed out, is also typically found in plant-based milks. The more you know!
So, is Costco's chicken going down the drain and better left outside of your cart? It seems like that may all depend on your body. While it may taste funny to some and cause digestive issues in others, plenty of people can still enjoy it. But one thing's for sure: we can still rely on Costco for tons of great deals (even if we can't eat all of their food).
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