Costco is a favorite membership retailer for many Americans, providing bulk essentials and specialty items to the masses. Loyal Costco members love the discounts on food and non-food items like tires and eyeglasses. Costco has also developed its own in-house brand for many items, Kirkland Signature. Costco is the only place where Kirkland Signature items are available.
Due to the sometimes-fanatical nature of its member’s, when something is removed from the shelves of Costco, it usually doesn’t go unnoticed. There are many reasons that something could be removed from sale at the store, from a lack of interest to environmental reasons or public outcry. Here is a list of twenty-four items that are no longer for sale at Costco.
1. Polish hot dogs
The Costco Polish hot dog was a food court favorite until it was discontinued to make way for healthier options and a simpler menu. There was a lot of consumer feedback on this issue. People were upset to see this food court item go using the hashtag #SaveThePolishDog on Twitter.
Costco however did not bend to the whims of the public and this item is still missing from the menu. Nonetheless, there is still the regular all beef hot dog available on the menu. Additionally, you can get a hot dog and a soda for only $1.50, what is really cheap.
2. Chocolate frozen yogurt
Frozen yogurt is another food court favorite that didn’t make it on to the new menu with all of its varieties. The vanilla flavor is still available, but chocolate did not make the cut and is no longer available to order.
This item removal even pushed Costco customers to start a petition to get this treat back in stores, but the company has not made a change. However, in addition to maintaining the vanilla frozen yogurt option, the Costco food court also has an açai bowl option now available. This healthier option also contains granola, strawberries, blueberries, and banana chips.
3. BBQ Beef Brisket Sandwich
The BBQ beef brisket sandwich was another Costco food court option that has been removed from the menu. This sandwich was only ever offered in select Costco locations, but still caused a stir when it was removed. The sandwich was a large serving of juicy beef brisket topped with sweet BB sauce and creamy coleslaw.
It was however comparatively a more expensive menu item, so likely did not have the following that the $1.50 hot dog combo has in Costco food courts. That’s why Costco stopped selling the BBQ beef brisket sandwich, which was just too expensive and didn’t really make enough money.
4. Hand-dipped Ice Cream Bars
This chocolate dipped, vanilla ice cream bar, covered in roasted almonds, was another food court favorite. This delectable treat only cost $1.50 in the Costco food court. The treats are also still available in the freezer section under the Kirkland Signature brand.
This version costs $11.59 for a box 18. But, many fans of the food court version say that they just don’t compare. Costco never provided a real reason for this item being removed, but many have speculated that it was due to rising almond and dairy costs. So sadly, Costco also doesn’t sell hand-dipped ice cream bars anymore.
5. Fresh made gelato
Fresh made gelato was another food court favorite that had limited availability. If you were in fact lucky enough to have a location near you that offered fresh gelato, it would only cost $1.50 for a three-scoop waffle cone and also only $4.99 for a quart to go.
There was also a variety of flavor available like chocolate, pistachio, mixed berry, stracciatella, and strawberry. This option was rumored to be somewhat of a test run, or trail offering, and was not successful enough to roll out to all stores, or keep in select stores for more than a few years.
6. Kirkland Signature Turkey burgers
The turkey burger was a buyer’s favorite for a very long time. As Americans focus more on healthy eating, Costco offered its own brand of turkey burgers in the freezer section. However, the company removed the 12-count frozen bag of this item from stores against public outcry.
Costco’s members have signed petitions urging the stores to bring back the burgers. At this time, this item is still not available, but Costco does also offer other brands that are a great substitute. Maybe in future they will bring the turkey burger back. Read on to find out which products Costco also no longer sells.
7. Kirkland Signature American Cheese
If you wanted some Kirkland Signature American cheese to go with your Kirkland Signature turkey burgers, you are doubly out of luck. On the whole, American cheese has become less popular over the years, so it comes as no surprise that Costco’s own brand of the stuff is no longer on the shelves.
This item removal came down to profit versus loss. Their sales of Kraft singles were far higher than their own brand, so they bought more from Kraft and stopped their production of the slices. While the Kirkland brand is no longer available, the Kraft version is there to fulfill your cheese needs.
8. Kirkland Signature Light Beer
This Costco brand light beer stopped production in 2018. These were sold in 48 packs for only $22, which ends up being less than 50 cents per can in the case. Many people enjoyed this product for its affordability, the taste however was always highly criticized.
Even though this super affordable light option is no longer available, there is a craft option now available. The case of craft brews contains stout, brown ale, pale ale, and Indian pale ale. It is a case of 24 bottles available for only $19.99. While the veracity of the “craft brewed” label may be debated, this option does have a better overall reaction to taste.
9. Kirkland Signature 5-Pocket Jeans
This was a Costco branded favorite item for dad’s everywhere, and it also was a bestseller and everyone loved it. There was a redesign of the jeans in 2016, but customers were in fact really underwhelmed with the new product.
There are also some other varieties of jeans offered through Kirkland Signature, but this particular 5 – pocket design does not exist anymore. But there are also many other brands available to Costco members that are a similar design also. So while some customer may have fond memories of the original 5- pocket Kirkland Signature version, there are great substitutes available.
10. Kirkland Signature Performance One Golf Balls
These Costco brand golf balls were a customer favorite since they rolled out in 2016. However, there were claims made almost immediately that these balls violated Titleist patents. There was a battle between Titleist and Costco via lawsuits, but the case was settled in 2018. Costco removed the original product from shelves and came out with something new.
However, the new version left much to be desired for customers. Enough customers complained that Costco refunded their money without even requiring return of the products. There is another option still available at Costco, the Kirkland Signature Three- Piece Urethan Cover Golf Ball Performance Plus.
11. Kirkland Signature Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
This sweet treat rivaled Reese’s cups in the loyal Costco shopper’s mind. The mix of creamy peanut butter and the right amount of chocolate, paired with the convenience of individually wrapped items, cannot be beat. It is in fact not clear why these are no longer available in store or online, because the were really popular.
However, many Costco customers bemoan the lack of this tasty delicacy. For now, customers have to buy Reese’s cups again to get the taste of sweet and creamy milk chocolate peanut butter cups. Read on to find out which products Costco also no longer sells.
12. Kirkland Signature Frozen Four Cheese Ravioli
This tasty instant pasta, stuffed with ricotta, Asiago, Parmesan and Grana Padano cheeses, were definitely a hit with customers, judging by the irate Facebook comments demanding its return. Food blogger MelanieCooks declared the product tasted “just as good as the cheese ravioli in Italian restaurants” and that she wouldn’t be surprised if restaurants were serving the Kirkland Signature pasta at inflated prices.
No formal announcements were made regarding the ravioli’s regrettable departure, but the product isn’t listed on the Costco website, and customers say it’s been a long while since it was offered in-store. So it is really unclear why they stopped selling them.
13. Kirkland Signature Body Lotion
This popular product was probably phased out sometime in 2017 and plenty of displeased customers took to Facebook to request its return. Made with plant extracts and lightly fragranced, the Kirkland Signature body lotion was a go-to for shoppers with dry and sensitive skin. “What’s it going to take Costco? I’ll never get through winter without this terrific body lotion.
Bring it back!” pleads Lilia A. Chacon on the social media platform. The warehouse chain has no plans to bring the body lotion back to U.S. shelves in the near future, claiming it didn’t meet inventory sales targets. However, if you’re planning on making a trip across the border at some point, you can grab the product from a Canadian store.
14. Costco Branded Cookbooks
Costco published their own cookbooks for members for years, distributing them on Thanksgiving weekend until 2015. These cookbooks showed easy ways to prepare all the food you can buy at Costco. Because the cookbooks were so easy to understand and to follow, they were really popular among the customers.
The cookbooks were replaced by a section of recipes in the monthly e-zine that members receive. The recipes in this section are provided by suppliers. Many people are upset that the cookbooks no longer exist, but likely you can find the older version archived. Read on to find out which products Costco also no longer sells.
15. All American Chocolate Cake
The All-American Chocolate Cake was a round cake that served about 12 people and cost only $16.99. This was a super-rich cake, packed with chocolate from the inside out. The chocolate cake was covered in chocolate icing, with chocolate mousse between layers and chocolate shavings decorating the outer edges of the delicacy.
The cake itself was packed with so much chocolate that it weighed a whopping seven pounds. You can probably guess that this was a much beloved cake that is now sorely missed by Costco members. There is a miniature version now available that is slightly different, but does pack some of the same punch as the original variety.
16. Half sheet cakes
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the delicious half sheet cakes were taken off the bakery table. These cakes were not only tasty, but also an affordable way to feed about 50 people. There is still a ten-inch round cake version available that serves a smaller crowd.
The Costco bakery only offered two flavors of this cake. The first is a white cake with two pounds of vanilla cheesecake mousse in between layers, topped with vanilla buttercream frosting. The second option is a chocolate cake layered with chocolate mousse and topped with chocolate buttercream. These cakes were basic, but they were a party favorite.
17. Round Up
The popular weed and grass killer brand, Round Up was removed from Costco’s shelves among controversy. Concerned citizens petitioned Costco to stop selling this item due to claims that the product can cause cancer. The company behind the product, Bayer, who also owns the Monsanto corporation, says the product is completely safe to use.
The World Health Organization however disagrees, maintaining that the active ingredient in round up is probably carcinogenic for people. Additionally, many cities in the United States have also banned or restricted the use of this product. So whether to protect people or to appease the petition, Costco no longer sells this particular weed killer.
18. Cuddle with Me Dolls
The Cuddle with Me Doll Collection contained dolls of three different ethnicities, Caucasian, African American, and Hispanic. The dolls also had a plush panda or monkey with them in the box. There were complaints about the African American version that wore hat with “lil’ monkey” emblazoned on it and which came with a monkey and a banana.
This was obviously racially insensitive, and once Costco received a complaint, this version of dolls was immediately removed from stores. The other versions were also eventually removed. The collection has not yet returned to Costco’s shelves. Read on to find out which products Costco also no longer sells.
19. Threatened Seafood
Prompted by an eight-month campaign by Greenpeace, Costco launched its sustainable seafood policy. This policy, which came into effect in 2011, limits what Costco stores will sell. They will also no longer offer wild seafood species that are identified as at a much greater risk.
This list is ever-changing but includes Atlantic cod, Atlantic halibut, shark, Bluefin tuna, and specific varieties of wild salmon. This was a move to be more sustainable as a company and have a lesser impact on the environment overall. And this also sits very well with the community conscious customers the compromise the Costco membership.
20. Chaokoh Coconut Milk
Chaokoh Coconut Milk was dropped by many retailers after accusations of animal cruelty from PETA. The company was accused of using coconuts in their products that had been harvested by using monkeys for labor. In 2020 Costco’s Vice President of Corporate Food and Sundries, Ken Kimble, said that Costco will pull the product from shelves while they investigate their suppliers.
Chaokoh Coconut Milk was dropped by many retailers after accusations of animal cruelty from PETA. The company was accused of using coconuts in their products that had been harvested by using monkeys for labor. In 2020 Costco’s Vice President of Corporate Food and Sundries, Ken Kimble, said that Costco will pull the product from shelves while they investigate their suppliers.
21. Eggs from Caged Chickens
In alignment with removing threatened seafood and Chaokoh coconut milk from their shelves, Costco also removed all non-cage free chicken eggs from their shelves. This is an effort that is being achieved over time, so they are not completely cage-free yet in the United States.
Stores in France, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Iceland have already met this goal. Overall, almost 94% of the chain’s eggs are already cage-free. All egg cartons that are currently for sale also clearly state their cage status. The cage-free variety have a certification listed. Read on to find out which products Costco also no longer sells.
22. Palmetto Cheese
Costco reportedly pulled Palmetto Cheese from shelves last year after brand owner Brian Henry made a public Facebook post attacking a popular protest group. The Post and Courier reports that the pimento cheese would no longer be carried in more than 120 U.S. Costco stores, and one Myrtle Beach location says the item has been discontinued and would not be re-ordered.
Costco has yet to comment on the product being removed. Henry told the news outlet that “Costco rotates items in and out during the course of the year. They will occasionally add and drop products as a matter of normal business … We remain optimistic that Palmetto Cheese will be back on the shelves in the not too distant future.”
23. Studded Tires
Costco in fact stopped selling this type of snow tire in stores across the U.S. (except for Alaska) back in 2007 for environmental reasons. And while studded tires certainly make it easier to drive on icy streets, they can also cause serious damage to roads.
“Many manufacturers are moving away from studded tires because of the road damage they cause,” Costco’s corporate tire buyer Pat McClintock told The Spokesman-Review. He added that the studded tires could damage other tires during shipping, plus they didn’t sell as well as they used to. That’s why they stopped selling the studded tires now.
24. MyPillow Products
Several big box retailers cut ties with MyPillow this year, and CEO Mike Lindell blames “cancel culture”. An online petition requesting Amazon, Walmart, Costco, and Bed, Bath & Beyond to stop selling the bedding maker’s products has garnered over 110,000 signatures.
Costco hasn’t commented on the removal, but other retailers like Bed Bath & Beyond have pointed to declining sales when explaining their decision to drop MyPillow products from store shelves. That could be the reason why they had to stop selling MyPillow Products. And this is the end of our list with 24 products that Costco are not selling anymore.