“The old container was much better.”
Posted: September 28, 2024 11:00 AM CDT
Food safety is an important factor for retailers that offer hot, ready-to-eat food.
But what if that storage method could have unintended consequences for your customers?
One Costco shopper said he felt sick multiple times after eating the bulk warehouse retailer’s rotisserie chicken.
In a video posted to TikTok with more than 583,000 views, dietician @thejacked.gentleman said she got sick twice after eating a bagged rotisserie chicken from Costco.
He said he believes that because the chicken was in a plastic bag, the bird developed the bacteria and passed it on to him when he ate it.
@thejacked.gentleman I felt sick twice the day after eating Costco’s Chicken in a Bag! I think bacteria will form if you let it cool on the counter before putting it in the fridge. It’s okay for the first day, but after that I won’t eat it. #Costco #CostcoPurchase #CostcoChicken #FoodPoisoning ♬ Original song – TheJackedGentleman
“I’ve gotten sick twice since switching to bagged chicken,” he says in the video. “I don’t think it’s a problem for the first day. I think if you let it cool on the counter before you get it home and put it in the fridge, it will breed bacteria.”
He continues: “In the old containers, the chicken wasn’t just placed in hot juice in plastic with chemicals, it was placed on top of the juice. It just doesn’t make sense anymore.”
The Daily Dot reached out to @thejacked.gentleman via direct message on TikTok and to Costco via a contact form regarding the video.
Has Costco changed its chicken packaging?
yes. Earlier this year, Costco changed its rotisserie chicken packaging from plastic clamshell packaging to thinner plastic bags in an effort to reduce plastic use and waste. Initially, customers complained that the bags leaked and were concerned about storing the birds in the refrigerator.
Concerns
The poster’s summary is that boiling chicken in its own juices may not be that far away. Consumer Reports investigated whether the bags were safe after customers reported leaks. According to Consumer Reports, experts say that if leaked chicken fluids leak onto surfaces like kitchen counters, they can themselves become a breeding ground for bacteria.
There are also concerns that chemicals could leak from the plastic bag packaging into the chicken itself. Prolonged heating of any kind can not only leach some of the plastic additives into the packaged food, but also cause the plastic to deteriorate.
Viewers also give their opinions
Some people who watched the video were quick to point out that if cooked food is stored improperly, there is a lot of potential for bacteria to grow in it.
“If you let it cool on the counter, bacteria will grow,” one commenter wrote. “Put directly in the refrigerator or ice bath to cool immediately.”
“In Australia…I’ve been eating chicken in a bag since I was a kid. I’m middle-aged,” another added. “Also, you need to cool it down quickly, such as by putting it in the refrigerator. You’re allowing bacteria to grow.”
“Don’t let it cool on the counter, put it in the fridge right out of the bag,” said another.
Another person said they felt similarly sick after eating Costco’s rotisserie.
One commenter wrote, “No, it’s the chicken that made me sick the first time I ate it.” “It never happened again.”
One user chimed in: “Wait, the last Costco chicken I bought made me sick so I haven’t bought it since.” “I never thought it might be because of the bag.”
“Honestly, I thought I was sick the last two times and thought it was just a coincidence, but seeing this makes me even more convinced,” one commenter wrote. There is.
Internet culture is chaotic, but we break it down for you in one email a day. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s web_crawlr newsletter here. Get the best (and worst) of the internet delivered straight to your inbox.
