Costco forced to clear popular baking essential from shelves before holidays as members blast ‘the most pitiful reason’
COSTCO members are up in arms after a popular baking item was stripped from shelves over the past month.
With the holiday season in full swing, removing any merchandise essential for festivities will cause an uproar.
It was no different for customers at the warehouse retailer who couldn’t find the Kirkland Signature Unsalted Sweet Cream Butter and Salted Sweet Cream Butter recently.
Kirkland Signature is Costco’s private label and has a wide variety of products under its name.
Members have been able to get Kirkland Signature items since the mid-1990s, and Costco claimed that merchandise under the private label is “offered at prices that are generally lower than national brands,” per a recent earnings report.
The warehouse retailer added that Kirkland Signature items “help lower costs, differentiate our merchandise offerings, and generally earn higher margins.”
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Unsalted and Salted Sweet Cream Butter are fan-favorite options for cooking dishes during Thanksgiving and Christmas, but around 79,000 pounds were ripped from shelves in October due to a recall.
MISSING WARNING
Packaging for the Salted and Unsalted versions of the Kirkland Signature Sweet Cream Butter allegedly did not have a disclaimer about a milk allergen that it was supposed to, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The FDA said the packaging does “list cream, but may be missing the Contains Milk statement.”
By law, retailers and businesses must include appropriate labeling for all food and drink items that contain milk.
The same goes for eggs, fish, peanuts, sesame, shellfish, soybeans, tree nuts, and wheat.
The FDA also gave Kirkland Signature Unsalted Sweet Cream Butter and Salted Sweet Cream Butter a “Class II” classification earlier this year, meaning the products could “cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences,” per Fox Business.
Costco closes down all locations for entire day leaving shoppers with fewer options – and other retailers slash hours
Per the FDA’s requirements, 46,800 pounds of Unsalted Sweet Cream Butter and 32,400 pounds of Salted Sweet Cream Butter from Kirkland Signature were taken away by Continental Dairy Facilities Southwest, which makes the item for the private label.
Most of the recalls occurred in Texas.
About 2,100 cases of both the salted and unsalted Kirkland Signature butter were sent to The Lone Star State.
While the recall was made to ensure member safety, many have argued that acknowledging the butter would contain milk is relatively common sense.
Costco membership sharing guidelines
Costco has strict rules for membership use that shoppers must follow and they’ve been cracking down on offenders in recent years.
- Primary Member Use: Only the primary cardholder can use this Costco membership card. Sharing it for purchases is not allowed as the photo on the card must match the person using it.
- Household Card: Each primary member can add one free household cardholder who lives at the same address. This person will receive their own membership card and can shop at Costco independently.
- Guest Policy: Members can bring up to two guests per visit to Costco. However, only the member can make purchases. Guests must be accompanied by the member.
- Authorized Cardholder: For an additional fee, you can add an authorized cardholder, such as a family member or friend, who doesn’t reside at your address. They will receive their own card and can shop independently.
Credit: Costco
FAN FURY
“It’s butter…literally made from cream,” a frustrated shopper wrote in a thread on Facebook about the FDA’s decision.
“This is the most pitiful reason to recall anything,” another commented.
“Our world has to give warning labels for butter because there are people that don’t understand butter contains milk.”
“Absolutely ridiculous!” a third exclaimed, noting that milk is still listed in the ingredients list on the back of the packaging.
Even though many members may be able to discern the connection between milk and butter, the FDA still must recall the items under the law.
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While the Kirkland Signature Unsalted and Salted Sweet Cream Butter should return soon, at least three other items at Costco are soon to be discontinued.
Still, Costco did bring back a “delicious” holiday favorite from the bakery in November for a limited time.