Costco Recalls Popular Meals Over Plastic Contamination Fear

Costco is recalling two widely consumed ready-to-eat meals, the Caesar Salad and Chicken Sandwich with Caesar Salad, following the discovery of plastic fragments in the dressing. The issue originated with Ventura Foods, a supplier, which identified the foreign material in its dressing. The affected products, identified by specific lot numbers and sell-by dates ranging from mid-October to early November, were distributed across Costco stores in the Midwest, Northeast, and Southeast regions.

Customers who purchased these items are strongly advised to cease consumption immediately. Costco is offering a full refund for returned products, encouraging shoppers to either discard the meals safely or bring them back to their local store. This recall underscores the pervasive risk of plastic contamination within food production and packaging systems, where fragments can inadvertently enter the food supply.

The incident also draws attention to the broader implications of plastic use in food operations and the potential health consequences for consumers who might ingest these particles. Experts emphasize the need for enhanced factory monitoring and stricter regulations to prevent such contaminations before products reach consumers, ensuring food safety and public health.