Costco's Rotisserie Chicken Is Making Customers Sick After Reported 'Chemical Flavor'
While Costco boasts something of a cult-like following, the retail giant has its flaws—at least where its rotisserie chicken is concerned.
In case you missed it, the entire internet—including a celeb chef—has bashed Costco for its budget-friendly roasted chicken. Earlier this year, customers complained about a "distinct chemical taste" in the $4.99 poultry on Reddit, while the chef David Chang called it "the worst rotisserie chicken."
"They're not seasoned...There's something about all the nitrates and all the crap they pump into the chicken that makes the chicken breast even more disgusting the next day when it's cold," he said during an episode of his podcast.
Now, things are looking decidedly worse for the famously cheap chicken. In a new Reddit thread, customers are alleging that the rotisserie chicken is causing, ahem, serious issues—including diarrhea and gas.
"This chicken upsets my stomach. Idk I feel like I taste chemicals in the brine or something. Is it me?" one user wrote.
Dozens more agreed in the comments. "OMG same! My wife and I thought we were crazy, they wreck both of us, and we’re in the Houston area. We just don’t f*ck with the chicken anymore."
While the consensus seemed the same (i.e. that the rotisserie chicken tastes like chemicals/plastic and may or may not be causing serious stomach issues), Redditors speculated differently about why. Some blamed the fat and seasonings, while others guessed it was the carrageenan, which is an ingredient in Costco's chicken.
According to nutritionist Lisa R. Young, Ph.D., RDN, who spoke with Eat This, Not That!, carrageenan might in fact be the culprit here. The food additive, which is derived of seaweed and is often used as a stabilizing and emulsifying agent, has caused bloating, cramps, and diarrhea in people before. However, no formal studies have confirmed the theory.
And while I'm inclined to take David Chang's word on the subject, plenty of customers are still fans of the Costco chicken. Maybe there's just a bad batch floating around out there?
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