Costco's New Rotisserie Chicken Bag Is Already Causing Problems

Costco has many claims to fame — bulk products, low prices, $1.50 food court hot dogs — but nothing seems to attract more attention to the warehouse giant than its rotisserie chicken. Famously priced at just $5.00 (though that can vary slightly from location to location), Costco's rotisserie chicken draws legions of online fans who praise it as arguably the best deal in food, but some members of that loyal community are now up in arms over a sudden change to the product's packaging.

In early March 2024, rumors began circulating online that Costco would be switching the packaging of its rotisserie chickens from plastic boxes to plastic bags. A now-deleted Reddit post from March 17th (via Eat This Not That) appeared to show an internal memo from Costco explaining that the packaging was being changed in order to cut down on plastic waste.

Rumors of a packaging change were confirmed later in the month when Costco locations in the retailer's home state of Washington switched their rotisserie chickens over to plastic bags. Customers shared their opinions on social media, and the general consensus was, well, a mixed bag. 

Multiple customers have reported that Costco's new rotisserie chicken bags are leaking chicken juices. In a Reddit thread dedicated to the issue, customers have complained about greasy bags and raised further concerns about the packaging. Multiple users pointed out that their local recycling services would not accept the new packaging, as they only take solid plastics and not bags, and a user who claims to be a former Costco employee expressed concern that the new bags would make it more difficult for employees to package large quantities of chicken.

However, many customers also came to the plastic bags' defense. It seems that Costco locations in Canada have been packaging their chicken like this for years, with Canadian commenters assuring their American brethren that the bags rarely leaked. In a separate Reddit thread initiated by a Canadian user last year, commenters celebrated the fact that the plastic bags are easier to pack into the car than the old rotisserie chicken containers were, with multiple people claiming the bags are actually less prone to leaks. So, while the American rollout of Costco's rotisserie chicken bags might be off to a bumpy start, there's no reason to panic. And with Costco planning more changes in 2024, customers have bigger things to look forward to.