costco kirkland product recall

Major Product Recalls at Costco: What Canadian Shoppers Need to Know About Kirkland Items

In recent weeks, Costco members across Canada and the United States have been navigating a series of significant product recalls affecting some of the warehouse giant's most popular private-label items. From celebratory bottles of prosecco to everyday ready-to-eat salads, the retailer has issued urgent safety notices regarding potential hazards ranging from glass breakage to plastic contamination.

For loyal Costco shoppers, the Kirkland Signature brand represents value and quality. However, recent developments have highlighted safety concerns that require immediate attention. This comprehensive guide breaks down the verified facts, explains the risks, and outlines exactly what Canadian consumers should do to stay safe.

Main Narrative: The Two Major Kirkland Recalls

Costco has recently been forced to recall nearly one million bottles of its popular Kirkland Signature Prosecco due to a serious safety hazard. Simultaneously, the retailer has also pulled certain Caesar salad and chicken sandwich products from shelves due to potential plastic contamination.

The prosecco recall is particularly alarming due to its scale and the nature of the risk. According to verified reports from Simply Recipes and iHeart, Costco is recalling approximately 941,400 bottles of Kirkland Signature Prosecco Valdobbiadene. The recall stems from reports that the bottles could shatter unexpectedly, posing a significant laceration hazard to consumers.

"Costco has recalled more than 940,000 bottles of Kirkland Signature Prosecco after 10 customers reported the bottles shattering and causing injuries."

While the salad recall does not involve the same volume, it addresses a distinct and equally concerning issue: the potential presence of foreign materials. According to official Costco notices, select Caesar salad and chicken sandwich products were recalled because of a possible presence of "plastic foreign material" in the salad dressing.

These incidents serve as a critical reminder for Canadian shoppers to remain vigilant about product notices, even when purchasing from trusted retailers like Costco.

Recent Updates: Timeline and Official Statements

To ensure you have the most current information, here is a summary of the verified developments regarding these recalls.

The Prosecco Recall (Kirkland Signature Prosecco Valdobbiadene)

• The Hazard: The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Costco have identified a risk where the glass bottles may break or shatter during handling or consumption.
• The Scope: The recall covers 941,400 bottles.
• Consumer Impact: As reported by TheStreet and other news outlets, there have been 10 confirmed customer reports of bottles shattering, which resulted in injuries.
• Purchase Window: The affected prosecco was sold at Costco warehouses and online between late April 2025 and late August 2025.
• Item Number: Consumers should look for Item #1879870 on their receipts or bottle labels.

The Salad Recall (Caesar Salad and Chicken Sandwich)

• The Hazard: The recall was issued due to a possible presence of a "plastic foreign material" in the salad dressing. Consuming plastic poses a choking hazard and can cause internal injury.
• The Products: Specifically affects the Caesar Salad (Item #19927) and the Chicken Sandwich with Caesar Salad (Item #11444).
• Geographic Specifics: The recall notice specifically mentioned select locations in the Midwest, Northeast, and Southeast. However, Costco often expands recalls, so checking your local warehouse is prudent.

Contextual Background: Why This Matters for Canadian Shoppers

While the verified news reports have largely focused on US-based recalls, these issues are highly relevant to Canadian Costco members for several reasons.

The Kirkland Brand Ecosystem Kirkland Signature is a global brand. While specific production lots may differ between the US and Canada, the supply chains for private label goods often overlap. When a manufacturer produces a bottle of prosecco or a dressing for Kirkland, the quality control standards (or lapses) can affect multiple markets. Therefore, Canadian shoppers should treat these US recall notices as a valid warning to inspect their own products.

Precedents in Product Safety As noted in supplementary research, "Food recalls affect every grocery retailer, no matter its size." Costco is not immune to the logistical challenges of maintaining quality control across thousands of SKUs. This series of recalls highlights a broader trend in the retail industry: the increasing scrutiny on packaging integrity and foreign material detection. In the past, we have seen similar recalls involving everything from metal shavings in canned goods to bacterial contamination in fresh produce. The current "plastic in dressing" and "shattering glass" issues fit into a pattern where packaging and processing failures create physical hazards.

The Cultural Significance of Costco For many Canadians, a trip to Costco is a weekly ritual. The Kirkland brand is often viewed as a "safe bet"—a generic that rivals or exceeds name brands. When that trust is tested, it resonates deeply with the consumer base. The recall of nearly a million bottles of prosecco is significant not just because of the safety risk, but because prosecco is a staple for celebrations, holidays, and gatherings. A product designed for joy becoming a source of injury is a jarring violation of the consumer contract.

Immediate Effects: What to Do Right Now

If you have purchased Kirkland products recently, immediate action is required to ensure your safety and that of your family.

1. Inspect Your Wine Cabinet

Check your inventory for Kirkland Signature Prosecco Valdobbiadene. * Check the dates: Recall notices indicate the bottles were sold between late April and late August 2025. * Check the item number: Look for Item #1879870. * The risk: Do not attempt to open or handle these bottles if you suspect they are part of the recall. The pressure from the carbonation, combined with potential glass defects, makes them dangerous.

2. Check Your Fridge for Salads

If you have purchased Caesar salad kits or chicken sandwiches containing Caesar salad from Costco in the last few weeks: * Do not eat them. * Even if you have consumed part of the product without issue, the presence of plastic may only affect a small portion of the batch. It is best to discard the remainder immediately.

3. The Refund Process

Costco has one of the most lenient return policies in retail, and this extends to recalled items. * Return to Warehouse: You can return the product to any Costco warehouse for a full refund. You do not need your receipt; your membership card allows them to look up the purchase. * Safety First: If you are worried about transporting a potentially shattering bottle, contact Costco customer service for advice. They may advise you to dispose of it safely (following local hazardous waste guidelines) and process a refund based on your purchase history. * Contact Info: For specific questions, utilize the contact forms on Costco’s official website or the specific recall pages linked in their "Product Recalls" section.

Future Outlook: Implications for Retail and Consumers

Looking ahead, these recalls are likely to have lasting effects on both Costco’s operational procedures and consumer behavior.

Enhanced Quality Control Manufacturers of Kirkland Signature products will likely face stricter auditing. The "exploding prosecco" issue points to a failure in glass integrity or pressure regulation during bottling. We can expect Costco to demand more rigorous testing from its third-party manufacturers. For the salad dressing contamination, stricter foreign material detection protocols (such as metal detectors or advanced X-ray scanners) will likely be implemented in the production facilities.

Consumer Awareness This series of events underscores the importance of checking recall databases. Canadian consumers should bookmark the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) website and the Costco Canada recall page. While the current verified reports are US-centric, the CFIA often mirrors these recalls shortly after they are announced.

Packaging Innovation The shattering bottle issue may accelerate a shift in packaging for sparkling wines. We may see a move toward thicker glass, different pressure-release mechanisms, or even a temporary shift toward more secure packaging options for private label sparkling wines.

Interesting Facts About Product Recalls

• Glass Under Pressure: Glass bottles for carbonated beverages must withstand internal pressures up to 90 psi (pounds per square inch), which is roughly three times the pressure inside a car tire. A microscopic flaw in the glass can lead to catastrophic failure.
• Foreign Material Detection: Modern food processing plants use X-ray machines to detect non-metallic contaminants like plastic, bone, or glass, which metal detectors cannot find. However, these systems are not foolproof and require constant calibration.
• The "Kirkland Effect": Kirkland Signature products are often manufactured by leading national brands. For example, Kirkland vodka is famously distilled by a top-tier distillery, and Kirkland diapers are often compared to premium brands. This means that recalls on Kirkland items can sometimes indicate systemic issues with the machinery used by major industry players.

Conclusion

The recent recalls of Kirk