Uh Oh—Costco Rotisserie Chicken Is Giving Customers Stomach Issues (Us Included) (2024)

FAQs

Why does Costco rotisserie chicken make my stomach hurt? ›

However, it is also known for its potential to cause gastrointestinal irritation in some eaters. Bloating, cramps, and diarrhea are some of the symptoms frequently linked to this ingredient. Carrageenan is, in fact, an ingredient listed in the Costco rotisserie, so this seems like a pretty good theory.

According to nutritionist Lisa R. Young, Ph. D., RDN, who spoke with Eat This, Not That!, carrageenan might in fact be the culprit here. The food additive, which is derived of seaweed and is often used as a stabilizing and emulsifying agent, has caused bloating, cramps, and diarrhea in people before.

Goldstein interviewed Harshavardhan Thippareddi, PhD, professor of poultry science at the University of Georgia, who explained that chickens are injected with phosphate to keep them juicy through the rotisserie preparation process, and some consumers may interpret this addition as a soapy or chemical-like flavor.

Rotisserie chicken lasts for up to four days if cooked and stored correctly. Keep the chicken in an airtight container or zip-top bag, and do not consume leftover chicken if left at room temperature for an extended period of time (more than two hours).

Despite their high sodium content, many believe that Costco rotisserie chickens are healthy for individual consumers if eaten in moderation. Yet factory farming has huge impacts on public health in the form of pollution, antibiotic resistance, increased pandemic risk, and contributions to climate change.

Some stores “inject the chickens with a solution, which might contain added salt, sugar, various natural flavorings,” Allers explains. “They add these other compounds – gums, stabilizers – to add flavor and moistness and make it look appetizing.”

Meat and fish can take as long as 2 days to fully digest. The proteins and fats they contain are complex molecules that take longer for your body to pull apart. By contrast, fruits and vegetables, which are high in fiber, can move through your system in less than a day.

People can have an allergy or intolerance to chicken meat or other chicken products, including feathers or eggs. An allergy usually involves more generalized symptoms, such as swelling and rashes, while an intolerance involves digestive issues, such as diarrhea.

Coughing or wheezing Red, hives-like skin irritation Throat inflammation or swelling Swollen tongue or lips Nausea or vomiting Stomach cramps Diarrhea Sore throat Swollen and watery eyes In more severe cases, people can experience a dangerous allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.

Where Do Costco's Rotisserie Chickens Come From? Costco roasts and seasons its chickens in-house, providing customers with a meal that's ready to eat right from the deli counter.

What is Costco's rotisserie chicken seasoned with? ›

It's worth noting that Costco calls the dish "Seasoned Rotisserie Chicken" and has the "seasoning" ingredients listed on the label: salt, sodium phosphates, hydrolyzed casein, modified cornstarch, sugar, dextrose, chicken broth, isolated soy protein lecithin and mono-and-diglycerides.

Chemical changes occur during cooking. Oven gases in a heated gas or electric oven react chemically with hemoglobin in the meat tissues to give it a pink tinge. Often meat of younger birds shows the most pink because their thinner skins permit oven gases to reach the flesh.

The USDA guidelines state that cooked chicken is only good for 3-4 days when refrigerated. Can you eat rotisserie chicken cold? Yes, absolutely! Since rotisserie chicken is fully cooked and seasoned already, it can be eaten cold in many ways.

USDA recommends using cooked chicken within three to four days, kept refrigerated (40°F or less). Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth.

If your chicken is slimy, has a foul smell, or has changed to a yellow, green, or gray color, these are signs that your chicken has gone bad. Toss any chicken that's past its use-by date, has been in the fridge for more than 2 days raw or 4 day cooked, or has been in the temperature danger zone for over 2 hours.

The Costco rotisserie chicken is as notable for what it isn't made with as much as what it does include. According to the label, it's free of potentially problematic ingredients like MSG, hormones, artificially-derived colors and flavors, and gluten.

People can have an allergy or intolerance to chicken meat or other chicken products, including feathers or eggs. An allergy usually involves more generalized symptoms, such as swelling and rashes, while an intolerance involves digestive issues, such as diarrhea.

Smith v. Vachris: The Costco Lawsuit

The shareholders brought a derivative suit against Costco executives for making Costco neglect and abandon chickens. The complaint followed a 2021 undercover investigation revealing that Costco's chickens are bred to grow so fast that many can't stand under their own weight.