Costco's Bone Broth Is Being Recalled Over Contamination

You might want to hold off on making that chicken noodle soup. Costco recently announced that it is recalling one of its chicken bone broths due to potential contamination. The broth in question is Culinary Treasures Organic Chicken Bone Broth. The item comes in a carton and a package. Only select cans of the chicken broth were recalled, specifically, those sold in the Southeast with lot number 98E08242. The broth also contains a sell-by-date of February 23, 2024.

If you have a container of broth affected by the recall, Costco suggests you discard the item or return it to the nearest Costco for a refund. While recalls can be scary, they do happen from time to time. Therefore, it's important to stay vigilant. Costco has been no stranger to recalls in the past. In early September, the warehouse chain issued a recall for chicken tortilla soup. 

Costco's current recall comes out of an abundance of caution after the grocery chain realized its broth may contain non-pathogenic microbes. Although no one has been hospitalized, the chain believes the microbes could affect the spoilage of the broth. 

According to the National Library of Medicine, non-pathogenic microbes don't pose a substantial risk to consumers. However, they can create an environment that promotes food spoilage and creates risks for more dangerous pathogens to thrive. In Costco's recall, the company mentioned the risk of the containers spoiling and bloating due to the potential microbes present. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, food can get contaminated in several ways, including through harvesting, processing, or distribution. In particular, manufacturers have to be careful not to mishandle their products. Likewise, temperature plays an important role in microbial growth. So far, Costco hasn't announced how the broth may have been contaminated, but important checks and balances, such as regular testing, help prevent food poisoning. While non-pathogenic microbes might not pose a large risk, it's better to adhere to the recall and throw out the broth or take it back to the store.