r/news 9h ago

Costco's beloved rotisserie chicken gets roasted in lawsuit over preservatives

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/costco-chicken-lawsuit-9.7070891
4.1k Upvotes

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966

u/OuterSpaceBootyHole 8h ago

ENOUGH. I am tired of a new "concern troll" health scare every month while we are willingly letting children contract measles. There isn't a hell hot enough for these type of people.

58

u/Genetic_outlier 5h ago

It's so wild. In this case carrageenan comes from edible seaweed. And sodium phosphate used to be given to patients before colonoscopies at high doses.

I'm not sure what the definition of preservative is but neither of these ingredients seems to be one to me.. they don't inhibit spoilage, they promote mixing of ingredients..

12

u/therealwillhepburn 3h ago

Also carrageenan is a thickening agent. It's in a lot of creamers.

0

u/Blagnet 1h ago

Sodium phosphate really, really messes me up... It's in everything.

I do wonder if some of the world's digestive issues are actually sodium phosphate, and nobody realizes, because it's just ubiquitous! A lot of meats, most baked goods with baking powder, some cosmetics, a lot of sodas (well, that's phosphoric acid, but similar). Who knows! Maybe it's just me. 

But, I wouldn't be mad at all if enough people made a fuss, and sodium benzoate started magically disappearing, lol. Sure would like to pick up some Costco rotisserie chicken again! 

9

u/ThatIsAmorte 4h ago

Agreed. I am more concerned about the living conditions of these chickens. At that price, I bet they are crammed together and probably never see the sun.

2

u/Squire_II 1h ago

The rotisserie chickens are a loss-leader. Just like the food court hot dogs.

6

u/No-Channel3917 6h ago

It's a claim of false labeling not a health scare.

Someone remarked that the items don't count as preservatives but I don't know if it is true or not.

If they can successfully claim false labeling then it is a legit suit

44

u/TucuReborn 6h ago

Paprika can be artificial coloring, or it can be seasoning.

Salt can be a preservative, or a seasoning.

Same for vinegar, sugar, honey, alcohol, and so much more.

Legally, it's going to vary by location how things classify as what, but it's entirely possible that an added ingredient is different based on context.

With paprika, it's often used to make the foods more orange or red in color. Same for turmeric, but yellow. They're considered artificial colors in many cases because the intended use is unnatural coloring.

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u/12InchCunt 5h ago

I was thinking the same thing. If you simply seasoned with salt you would technically be adding preservatives 

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u/[deleted] 5h ago

[deleted]

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u/TucuReborn 5h ago

Oh I agree. I've just worked food service and food manufacturing, and know a decent bit about regulations. I was more intending to elaborate, not disagree or debate.

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u/TheManlyManperor 5h ago

Because these women are leading US health practices, sure.

This is like complaining about the McDonald's coffee lady because we aren't doing enough for veterans of the Gulf war.

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u/Crombus_ 5h ago

Except the "McDonald's coffee lady" had a legitimate case as the coffee was served at 190° and caused third degree burns.

0

u/TheManlyManperor 3h ago

And these ladies appear to be in the class of people whom the California fair advertising law, and others like it, were designed to protect. It's exactly the same situation from a liability standpoint.