Costco shoppers need to inspect their pantries and refrigerators immediately as the warehouse retailer has issued recalls for three popular products following serious contamination discoveries. The recalls involve metal fragments found in pork jerky and plastic pieces detected in ready-to-eat meal items, affecting millions of pounds of products distributed nationwide.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service and Costco have urged customers to stop consuming the affected items immediately and either discard them or return them to stores for full refunds. While no confirmed injuries have been reported in connection with these recalls, the potential health risks remain serious enough to warrant swift action from consumers.
The 3 recalled products
1. Golden Island pork jerky: LSI, Inc., a South Dakota-based food manufacturer, recalled approximately 2.2 million pounds of Golden Island Korean barbecue pork jerky on Oct. 24, 2025. The massive recall came after multiple consumer complaints about finding pieces of wiry metal inside the ready-to-eat product. The metal fragments originated from the conveyor belt used during production, according to the Food Safety and Inspection Service.
The affected jerky reached shelves at both Costco and Sam’s Club locations across the country. Customers should look for Golden Island fire-grilled pork jerky Korean barbecue recipe in 14.5-ounce and 16-ounce pouches. The packaging includes establishment number M279A inside the USDA mark of inspection, with best-by dates spanning from Oct. 23, 2025, through Sept. 23, 2026.
2. Caesar salad: Costco announced an urgent recall in early November for its Caesar salad containers after plastic fragments were discovered in the dressing manufactured by Ventura Foods, a California supplier. The affected containers bear Lot 19927 with sell-by dates ranging from mid-October to early November 2025. These ready-to-eat salads were distributed to Costco warehouses in the Midwest, Northeast and Southeast regions.
3. Chicken sandwich: The same contamination issue affecting the Caesar salad extends to Costco’s chicken sandwich packages. Plastic fragments in the dressing component prompted the recall of sandwiches marked with Lot 11444. These products share the same sell-by date range as the salads and were sold in the same geographic regions across multiple Costco locations.
Understanding the health risks
Metal contamination in food products presents immediate dangers to consumers. Sharp metal fragments can cause choking hazards, cuts to the mouth and throat, and potentially serious internal injuries if swallowed. The wiry nature of the metal pieces found in the pork jerky makes them particularly concerning, as they could easily go unnoticed until consumed.
Plastic contamination carries its own set of risks. Visible plastic fragments can lead to choking, especially in children and elderly individuals. The sharp edges of broken plastic pieces may cause cuts or scratches to the digestive system if accidentally ingested. Beyond these immediate concerns, the incident has reignited conversations about microplastics in the food supply, though the Costco recall specifically involves larger, visible plastic pieces.
What caused these contaminations
The pork jerky contamination stemmed from a mechanical failure during production. The conveyor belt used in the manufacturing process began shedding metal fragments that made their way into the finished product. This type of equipment breakdown highlights the importance of regular maintenance schedules and quality control inspections in food production facilities.
For the salad and sandwich recalls, the contamination occurred at the ingredient level. Ventura Foods, which manufactures the Caesar dressing used in both products, experienced issues that allowed plastic fragments to enter the dressing during production. Food safety experts note that such incidents often result from packaging materials or plastic components used in processing equipment breaking down and contaminating food products.
Steps for affected customers
Anyone who has purchased Golden Island pork jerky should immediately check the packaging for the establishment number M279A and verify the best-by dates. Products falling within the Oct. 23, 2025, to Sept. 23, 2026, timeframe should not be consumed. Customers can contact the company directly at [email protected] with questions about the recall.
For the Caesar salad and chicken sandwich products, customers need to examine their purchases for the specific lot numbers. Salads with Lot 19927 and sandwiches with Lot 11444 should be returned to Costco immediately. The company is offering full refunds for all affected items, and customers do not need receipts to process returns.
Industry implications
These recalls represent part of a concerning pattern in food production safety. Earlier in July 2025, more than 1,000 pounds of Ada Valley frozen ground beef were pulled from stores after metal pieces were discovered, demonstrating that contamination issues extend beyond a single manufacturer or product category.
Food safety experts emphasize that while recall systems work to remove contaminated products quickly, prevention remains the ultimate goal. Enhanced monitoring protocols, stricter quality controls and improved equipment maintenance schedules could help reduce the frequency of such incidents in the future.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service continues monitoring the effectiveness of these recalls to ensure retailers and consumers receive proper notification and contaminated products are removed from circulation. Anyone experiencing adverse health effects after consuming these products should seek medical attention immediately.
Source: Azat TV