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Costco Sued Over $4.99 Rotisserie Chicken
Two California shoppers have filed a class‑action lawsuit accusing Costco of falsely advertising its $4.99 Kirkland Signature Seasoned Rotisserie Chicken as having “no preservatives,” even though the product contains sodium phosphate and carrageenan, according to various news reports. However, the ingredient list includes sodium phosphate and carrageenan, which the plaintiffs argue are a form of preservatives.
The complaint was filed on January 22, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, on behalf of all U.S. shoppers who have bought Costco’s Kirkland Signature Seasoned Rotisserie Chicken. Alongside this, the two plaintiffs want a separate subgroup (“subclass”) specifically for California customers, as California consumer‑protection laws apply differently there. The suit claims Costco broke California and Washington state consumer protection laws. California applies because that’s where the shoppers bought the chicken; Washington applies because Costco is headquartered there.
According to reporting by USA Today, the LA Times, and the New York Post, the additives at issue — sodium phosphate and carrageenan — are both permitted to be used in food by U.S. regulators. However, research indexed in the National Library of Medicine (NLM) indicates that high intake of phosphate additives can pose health risks, particularly for individuals with kidney disease.
How AI Enables Higher Food Prices and Corporate Profits
In December 2025, a Consumer Reports investigation found that the food delivery platform Instacart was conducting a pricing experiment. Using artificial intelligence (AI), Instacart charged shoppers different prices for the same items to see how much different people were willing to pay.
Consumer Reports projected that the price swings it saw could amount to some families paying as much as $1200 more for groceries in a year. (In the wake of the investigation, Instacart stopped its AI pricing experiments.) At a time of rising food prices and cruel Trump policies that take food out of the mouths of children and families, this kind of experimentation is a slap in the face.
It’s also a smoking gun for a new era of corporate greed. With the power of digital technology, data collection, and AI, corporations can pursue new pricing strategies to squeeze even more profits from us. The data centers powering the AI boom aren’t just raising our electricity bills, polluting our air, worsening climate change, and guzzling our water. They’re also helping corporations drive prices as high as they can get away with.
Baby Biscuits Recall — ‘Should Not Feed’ to Child
A batch of biscuits, made for babies, has been voluntarily recalled, as the company warns that consumers “should not feed this product to their child,” according to the company statement, which was released on January 26, and an announcement published by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on January 28, 2026.
A “limited” batch of Gerber Arrowroot biscuits has been voluntarily recalled nationwide by the manufacturer — Gerber Products Company — because there’s a concern that they may contain soft plastic and/or paper pieces that should not be consumed. The recalled Arrowroot biscuits are commonly given to infants and toddlers, and ingesting foreign material – like plastic or paper — can pose a choking or injury risk even if the material is described as soft.
According to the FDA and Gerber’s company statement, the potential presence of plastic or paper was discovered following a supplier recall of the arrowroot flour that was used to make this batch of biscuits. Gerber said it was no longer working with that supplier. Gerber said, in its recall notice, that: “The quality, safety, and integrity of our products remain our highest priority, and we take this responsibility seriously. We sincerely apologize for any concerns or inconvenience this action causes for parents, caregivers, and retail customers.”
CDC Says Outbreak Traced to Pasta Meals Has Ended With 6 Deaths
Federal officials have declared that an outbreak of infections from Listeria monocytogenes in prepared pasta meals is over. The outbreak sickened 27 people across 18 states. Of patients with the information available, 25 required hospitalization and six died, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
One pregnancy-associated illness resulted in a fetal loss. Sick people’s samples were collected on dates ranging from Aug. 1, 2024, to Oct. 16, 2025. The true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely higher than the number reported, and this outbreak may not have been limited to the states with known illnesses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is because some people recover without medical care and others are not specifically tested for Listeria infection.
Several varieties of prepared pasta meals sold under several brands were recalled during the outbreak. The supplier of the affected pasta, Nate’s Fine Foods Inc., recalled several lots of pre-cooked pasta, including fettuccine, linguine and farfalle (bowtie), after a sample of linguine pasta collected and tested by FreshRealm tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes.
FDA Elevates Recall Over Widespread Sanitation Concerns
A large product recall involving nearly 2,000 everyday items has been raised to a higher safety level after federal inspectors found serious sanitation concerns at a Midwest distribution center. The recall affects many well-known food, drink, and medical brands that are commonly found in homes across the country, including Nutella, Cheerios, and other familiar names.
The recall was first announced last month by Gold Star Distribution, Inc., a company based in Minnesota. The action followed an inspection by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which reported troubling conditions inside the company’s facility. According to the agency, inspectors found signs of rodents and birds in areas where products meant for people and pets were stored. This included evidence of droppings and urine in spaces holding food, medications, medical devices, and cosmetic items.
On January 22, the FDA raised the recall to a Class II level. This category means that using or eating the affected products may cause temporary or medically serious health problems. While not considered the most extreme recall level, it signals a clear risk that requires public attention and quick action by retailers and consumers.
The items recalled for sanitation concerns were sold in stores across Indiana, Minnesota, and North Dakota. Because many of the products are shelf-stable and commonly stocked in bulk, health officials warned that some households may still have recalled items at home without realizing it. Consumers are being urged to check product lists carefully and avoid using anything included in the recall.
Food Companies Are Targeting Users of Weight-Loss Drugs With ‘GLP-1 Friendly’ Labels
The Telegraph Herald reported:
Meals and snacks with “GLP-1 Friendly” labels on the packaging are becoming more common in U.S. supermarkets as a growing number of Americans try obesity drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound to lose weight. But the labels aren’t regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, unlike the popular medications themselves.
Dietitians say people taking GLP-1 drugs need to read ingredient lists and talk to experts about what nutrients they need — and don’t need. “A drug does not educate you on how to eat properly,” said Suzy Badaracco, a registered dietitian and president of the food trends forecasting firm Culinary Tides. “You’re not magically going to be educated — without a doctor’s help — to eat healthy.” The nutritional needs of GLP-1 users aren’t that different from those of the general population, said Shannon Christen, a dietitian and diabetes educator with UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital.
The difference is that GLP-1 users eat less because the drugs suppress their appetites, so the foods they do eat need to be packed with nutrients, Christen said. They can expect to eat around 50% less than they ate before they started taking the medications, she said. “Every bite needs to be nutritious,” Christen said. Protein helps GLP-1 users maintain muscle mass as they lose weight. Christen said she generally recommends that patients eat 20-30 grams of protein per meal, or 1.2 grams per kilogram of body weight daily.
Chia Seeds Recalled Nationwide Due to Salmonella Risk — sold at Whole Foods, Amazon and More
There’s an active recall on chia seeds sold nationwide, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This is due to a potential Salmonella contamination. The recall is affecting 8-ounce pouches of Navitas Organics’ Organic Chia Seeds sold at retail locations like Whole Foods Market as well as through online retailers, including Amazon.
The recalled products have a UPC of 858847000284. Check your pantry, and if you have the recalled chia seeds on hand, dispose of them or return to your place of purchase for a refund. This recall is a result of an international recall due to a shared supplier, and it expands to Canadian chia seed product Left Coast Organics’ Organic Chia Seeds, sold in 900-gram bags at retail locations throughout Canada.
Salmonella infection (salmonellosis) can be severe for sensitive groups, including immunocompromised individuals, those age 65 or older, young children and for those who are pregnant. If you are showing symptoms of foodborne illness like stomach cramps, headache, nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea, contact a healthcare provider immediately.
