The 7 Most-Hated Kirkland Signature FoodsJay L Clendenin – Getty Images
Despite Costco’s reputation for delicious, affordable food, some private-label products have been panned by members.
Some items, like light beer and boxed mac and cheese, were so poorly received that they were eventually discontinued.
Other Kirkland Signature products are still sparking complaints today, including frozen pizza, salsa, butter, and rotisserie chicken.
With its reputation as one of the cheapest grocery stores in the country, Costco is often the best place to buy groceries… except when it’s not. Because the warehouse carries a smaller inventory, it has to be selective about what goes onto its shelves. And based on member opinions, the chain doesn’t always get it right.
Even its private label, Kirkland Signature, has made some historic food-related fumbles. We rounded up some of the most hated, controversial, and divisive Kirkland Signature foods that Costco has ever sold. Here are the top—or bottom?—picks.
Protein Bars
Costco
With our collective fixation on maximizing protein intake, you’d expect Costco to meet the moment. But Kirkland Signature’s protein bars are overwhelmingly panned for both texture and flavor. The recipe has changed several times over the years, but not necessarily for the better.
One Reddit user described the texture as “sandy,” while another compared it to Play-Doh. One member in particular had some especially strong words: “[They] are chalky, bitter garbage.” Those who eat them regularly claim it’s for the macros, not the taste.
Organic Salsa
Costco
The label on Kirkland Signature’s salsa advertises vine-ripened tomatoes, but many members seem more focused on what else is going on in the jar. Complaints often center on the strong cumin flavor and a “weird metallic taste.”
There’s room for improvement with the texture, too. One Reddit user described the mouthfeel as “almost slimy,” while another put it more bluntly: “So. Much. Liquid.” Members instead opt for Mateo’s, which they say has a more well-rounded flavor.
Boxed Mac & Cheese
You may know Costco’s beloved ready-to-heat mac and cheese. What you may not remember is the now-discontinued boxed version, which members often summed up with one word: gross.
Multiple Reddit users said they tried one box and either returned or donated the rest. It was eventually pulled from shelves, and shoppers mostly stick with Kraft and Annie’s instead.
Frozen Pepperoni Pizza
Costco
Costco’s food court pizza is amazing, so you’d expect the frozen pepperoni version to be great too, right? Wrong. Members compare the crust to cardboard, and some even argue it’s worse than what you’d find in a “middle school cafeteria.”
One Google reviewer crowned it the “worst frozen pizza on the market” and said they’d “would only eat it if [they were] starving to death.” Strangely, many shoppers say the cheese pizza sold in similar packaging is much better. Some members have taken matters into their own hands by buying pepperoni separately to DIY a better version than Costco’s.
Light Beer
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Costco is often praised for its private-label liquor (lest we forget the Grey Goose allegations). But Kirkland Signature’s light beer is one glaring example where it fell short. Members have compared it to “low-quality diet malt liquor” and said it was “unique in how bad it was.”
A Costco employee on Reddit even shared some internal perspective: “In management, we like to bring it up as a joke because it was so poorly received.” The light beer has been gone since 2018, but people clearly haven’t let it go. As one member put it: “I am never forgiving them for that.”
Salted Butter
Costco
Kirkland Signature butter is still one of the better deals in the warehouse, but member opinions have soured in recent years due to an alleged formula change. Back in 2023, eagle-eyed Redditors noticed that their sticks of butter weren’t softening like usual, and some said their baking projects started to suffer.
“I started to think I was going crazy,” one member wrote. “But then I saw videos of other people… saying the same thing.” Costco has never confirmed the water-content theory, but some shoppers say they’ve switched brands for good.
Rotisserie Chicken
Costco
Costco’s rotisserie chicken is among the brand’s most iconic products—and the most controversial. Fans love the affordability, convenience, and heavy seasoning. But just as many people seem to have serious complaints.
Professional chefs have publicly called Costco’s rotisserie chicken “inedible” and “disgusting.” Members often complain about the texture and what they describe as a “chemical flavor.” The warehouse chain is even facing not one but two class-action lawsuits over the chicken’s quality.
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