Warehouse retailer Costco is being sued by a class of customers who claim its Kirkland Signature Seasoned Rotisserie Chicken falsely advertises as containing no preservatives.

The lawsuit, filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, alleges that Costco’s promotional materials create an impression of “no preservatives” but the product actually contains two added preservatives: sodium phosphate and carrageenan.

The complaint, submitted on behalf of Anatasia Chernov and Bianca Johnston, states that consumers rely on such claims when making purchasing decisions. “Consumers reasonably rely on clear, prominent claims like ‘No Preservatives,’ especially when deciding what they and their families will eat,” said Wesley Griffith, California managing partner at the Almeida Law Group LLC.

The lawsuit further explains: “The presence of sodium phosphate and carrageenan, added preservatives which function as such in the Rotisserie Chicken, contradict the overall net impression that Costco’s ‘No Preservatives’ representations and advertising create.”

In a separate legal matter, Costco has agreed to pay $1 million as part of a settlement with Safeway and Albertsons over alleged violations of California labor laws. The companies, which denied wrongdoing, will distribute payments to approximately 1,335 workers employed between June 12, 2015, and November 4, 2025.

The class action claims relate to inadequate meal and rest breaks as well as wage discrepancies. Workers can receive direct payments based on shifts worked during the class period, with a deadline for filing claims set for March 3, 2026.