Save the addition of salt, spices and other add-ins for taste, butter is a single-ingredient food. So, it may come as a surprise that on October 11, the FDA recalled 80,000 pounds of Costco brand butter for containing its only ingredient: milk. Keep reading to find out why food safety experts are advising consumers to either throw away or request a refund for this butter.
The FDA recalls 80,000 pounds of Costco brand butter
On Oct. 11, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recalled 80,000 pounds of Costco’s Kirkland Signature butter because the packaging missing was the “Contains Milk,” allergy statement.
The recall was officially classified as Class II on Nov. 7. According to the FDA, this classification indicates that the use of, or exposure to the butter “may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences.”
Kirkland Signature butter is produced by Continental Dairy Facilities Southwest LLC, headquartered in Littlefield, TX.
The FDA shared that the butter was distributed throughout Texas, but specified areas were not revealed in their reports.
Additionally, it is unclear if anyone has reported allergic reactions connected to the recalled butter.
Which types of Costco butter were recalled?
The total recall included 2,100 cases of Kirkland Signature Unsalted Sweet Cream Butter and Kirkland Signature Salted Sweet Cream Butter.
The “best by” dates for the one-pound, four-stick packages fall between February 22, 2025, and March 29, 2025.
A more specified breakdown of recalls by lot number is available on the FDA’s website.
What do food safety experts advise people to do with the recalled butter?
If you find that you have the recalled butter in your refrigerator, there are expert-advised ways of handling the recall safely.
According to FoodSafety.gov (a website that provides information about food safety from government agencies), consumers should return the recalled product for a refund.
Whether or not the purchasing store administers a refund, it is important that people properly dispose of the recalled product so that no one accidentally consumes it.
What are people saying about the recall of Costco brand butter?
Several people on the internet weighed in on the recall of Costco brand butter. Confusion was a common theme in the comments and posts about the recall on social media.
One person who has serious dietary restrictions wrote that the recall was, “pretty ridiculous,” while another wrote that the FDA followed a “peculiar logic.”
Some accounts took the opportunity to create memes about the recall to laugh at butter scandalously containing milk.
The significance of mislabeling allergen-containing foods
Accurate food labels are essential to food safety, especially when it comes to identifying top allergens such as eggs, fish and, of course, milk.
Unlisted allergens can lead consumers to have adverse reactions such as vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, wheezing, coughing and an itchy skin rash.
In severe cases, unknowingly ingesting an allergen can result in anaphylaxis. This life-threatening allergic reaction involves difficulty breathing and a sudden, dangerous drop in blood pressure.
Though mislabeling recalls are not exactly common, in 2023 a Kelley Foods sausage product was recalled because the packaging did not list cheddar cheese as an ingredient.
