So many of us are obsessed with checking the expiration dates on food. I know I am—on dairy, meats, and more. But what happens if the expiration date is not reflecting reality and is completely wrong? Even worse, what if you find out that the company simply lied about the expiration and is selling you old meat? This is what happened to one woman in Florida ahead of Mother’s Day, and now she’s speaking out about the anger it made her feel.
A Florida chef named Katie Cox shared her story this week on TikTok. She insists Costco’s packaging can’t be trusted and now others are speaking out about their experiences as well. In the video, which has hundreds of thousands of views, Katie shows six racks of lamb she and her husband bought for Mother’s Day. She told her viewers when they got home from Costco, they quickly noticed the meat smelled spoiled.
Katie checked the expiration label, which showed that the meat was still good and not expired. However, she then noticed that something was off. She said, “There’s a second label under the label.” She peeled the false label off, finding another that went back a week prior. Three racks of lamb—which don’t come cheap, might I add—were indeed spoiled. Katie returned to Costco, supposedly finding more double-labeled lamb racks. Can you imagine the smell, in the Florida heat? Yuck!
Katie, who clearly knows her way around a kitchen, explained, “I’ve never had a problem with their lamb racks before. But you cannot re-label items to extend the shelf life.” She went on to add that, while working in a corporate kitchen, she would be fired for pulling that same move.
She then asks, “Hey, Costco, isn’t this illegal?” Though the laws regarding this are murky, it definitely doesn’t sit well with anybody. I’d love to know how the USDA handle these issues!
Since the video’s posting, many viewers were astounded Costco would stoop to this level. One commenter joked, “Excuse me Costco… this is Walmart behavior,” while another stated, “A BIG STORE like Costco doing shady business like that… what a shame.”
Even further, many viewers explained that they dealt with the same experience at Costco. One said, “GIRL I HAD THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPEN IN FEB!! They were supposed to expire in March – they already smelled foul and rotten.”
When feeding ourselves and our families, I expect the very best quality from grocery stores and large retailers. Knowing that Costco has used this shady practice is downright concerning, to say the least. So, here’s a helpful suggestion: Check the labels before you purchase, and then possibly re-check them, because you never know what’s hiding underneath!
