9 Costco Food Items Members Label As “Huge Disappointments”
Costco’s massive warehouses offer amazing deals on bulk items, but not everything is a winner. Despite the store’s reputation for quality, some products consistently let shoppers down.
Based on member reviews and online discussions, these nine food items from the retail giant have earned the dubious honor of being labeled major letdowns.
1. Kirkland Signature Organic Sweet Potato Sticks
Ever bitten into something expecting a burst of flavor only to find… nothing? That’s the common experience with these snacks. The texture falls somewhere between chewy and gummy, while the sweet potato flavor is barely detectable.
Members report tossing entire bags after just one disappointing handful. At nearly $8 per bag, the price-to-satisfaction ratio makes these sticks a consistent regret in shopping carts.
2. Think! Protein Bars Variety Pack
Fitness enthusiasts beware! These protein bars might build muscle, but they’ll definitely destroy your taste buds. The chalky texture combined with an artificial sweetness creates what one member called “a punishment, not a snack.”
I once purchased these during a health kick and couldn’t get through half the box. Many shoppers report digestive issues from the sugar alcohols, adding insult to injury.
3. Kirkland Signature Round Cakes
Birthday celebrations deserve better than these overhyped desserts. The frosting hits you with a sugar overload that masks any subtlety in flavor. Members consistently complain about the skimpy filling-to-cake ratio.
What should be a cream cheese delight often amounts to just a thin smear between layers. For $16-20, shoppers expect bakery quality but instead get something that tastes mass-produced and forgettable.
4. Kevin’s Natural Foods Ready Meals
Marketing promises “restaurant quality” but delivers cafeteria reality. These pre-cooked meals feature meat with a strange, rubbery texture that no amount of sauce can disguise. The flavors fall flat despite impressive packaging claims.
Back in 2022, I stocked my freezer with these during a busy work period and regretted it with every reheated meal. At $12-15 for just two servings, the price point adds salt to the wound.
5. New Recipe Kirkland Signature Muffins
Remember when Costco muffins were moist, flavorful treats? The new recipe has longtime members mourning their breakfast favorite. The reformulated muffins crumble at the slightest touch and lack the rich flavor that made the originals famous.
The texture somehow manages to be both dry and gummy simultaneously—a culinary feat nobody asked for. Some dedicated members buy them anyway, hoping for improvement with each batch.
6. Double Chocolate Chunk Cookie (Food Court)
Size doesn’t equal satisfaction with this food court newcomer. Replacing the beloved churro, this oversized cookie promised chocolate decadence but delivered sugar overload. The richness quickly becomes overwhelming, making it difficult to finish even half.
Most members agree that the $2.99 price tag feels excessive compared to the legendary $1.50 hot dog combo. One bite might satisfy your curiosity, but few return for seconds.
7. Kirkland Signature Cheese Pizza Slice
Nostalgia keeps this food court staple alive, but reality tells a different story. The once-beloved slice now sits under heat lamps developing a peculiar texture—simultaneously soggy and tough. A visible layer of orange grease pools atop bland cheese.
My family used to make special trips just for these slices, but our last visit left everyone questioning why we bothered. Even at $1.99, members increasingly opt for other food court options.
8. Discontinued Roast Beef Sandwich (Food Court)
Costco’s brief flirtation with upscale food court options crashed and burned with this sandwich. At $9.99, it created immediate sticker shock compared to other menu items. The meat often arrived dry, the ciabatta bread tough, and the overall flavor profile utterly forgettable.
Members voted with their wallets, and Costco quickly pulled the item from menus nationwide. Its short lifespan speaks volumes about its reception.
9. Kirkland Signature Frozen Cheese Pizza
Budget-friendly doesn’t excuse bland. These frozen pizzas consistently rank among members’ biggest regrets, with crusts that somehow remain soggy in the middle while burning at the edges.
The cheese lacks stretch and flavor, creating an experience one Redditor described as “eating melted plastic on cardboard.”
Despite following baking instructions precisely, the results rarely improve. Even busy weeknights deserve better than these lackluster pies.