Costco is recalling nearly 80,000 pounds of butter due to a labeling error

by Junna Base November 12, 2024

A recent recall caused ridicule on the Internet.

On October 11, Continental Dairy Facilities Southwest LLC initiated a voluntary recall of nearly 80,000 pounds of butter distributed in Texas and sold at Costco.

The recall includes 1,300 cases (approximately 46,800 pounds) of 16-ounce, 4-stick packages of Kirkland Signature Unsalted Sweet Cream Butter and 900 cases (approximately 32,400 pounds) of 16-ounce, 4-stick packages of Kirkland Signature Salted Sweet Cream Butter .

The FDA classified the recall as Class II on November 7 because users may be exposed to a strange “undeclared allergen” in the butter products: milk.

“Butter lists cream, but may be missing the statement “Contains milk,” the FDA wrote. The recall lists six product batches with a best-before date of February 22, 2025 to March 29, 2025.

If you purchased Kirkland Signature brand butter on or before October 11th and it matches the recall information and you are sensitive or allergic to milk, discard it as soon as possible or return it to your local Costco for a refund .

The FDA defines a Class II recall as “a situation in which use of or exposure to an infringing product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health effects, or in which the likelihood of serious adverse health effects is remote.”

This is on a lower scale than a Class I recall, which provides a “reasonable probability” that users of the product could suffer “serious health consequences or death.” A recent example is Perdue Foods’ August recall of frozen chicken nuggets and tenders due to possible metal contamination.

Milk is listed by the FDA as one of the top nine food allergens, but social media has questioned the need for this recall.

“80,000 pounds of Costco butter was just recalled because the label doesn’t say it contains milk,” one X user wrote. “It’s butter.”

“In other news, ice cream is made from water,” wrote another. “Who knew?”

“This is just nonsense,” one person wrote on Reddit.

“Can you please dispose of it safely at my house? I have a lot of baking to do for the holidays,” one X user joked.

However, there were others who appreciated the severity of the recall.

“Sounds a little silly, but as someone with food allergies, I’m comforted by the thoroughness of our food safety systems,” wrote one Reddit user.

“I would rather have labels I can trust, regardless of how silly this example seems on the surface,” another user wrote. “I like my food unadulterated, thanks.”