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Why Costco Is Being Sued Over Its Kirkland Signature Tuna

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Story by Kareena Koirala • Jan 24

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Costco store front

© Jonathan Weiss/Shutterstock

Costco has come a long way since its inception in 1976 on Morena Boulevard in San Diego. The wholesale warehouse store is at the top of
its game with $222.7 billion in sales in 2022 and an impressive 92.6% membership renewal rate in the United States and Canada, per
Yahoo Finance. If that doesn't speak volumes about how much people love Costco, we don't know what will.

Members paying $60 for Costco's Gold Star Membership know that they will get the bang for
their buck, and it's the main reason why the wholesale giant has a cult-like following. Regular
shoppers generally save more money than they spend on the membership, and the only
downside seems to be that once they get in, they end up spending money on things they don't
really need. "As a guy living in my own place, I have to stop myself buying 5kg of sweets or 30
packs of waffles lol," a Redditor wrote in the past.

Solar Panels Are Almost Free, What's more, positive Glassdoor reviews help explain why Costco has such a low turnover rate.
Thanks To The Government! One Redditor opined, "Costco's commitment to paying their workers a reasonable wage is my
#1 reason for shopping there. (Their selection is also good)."

Ad Live Smart Save Money Costco evidently knows how to keep its customers and employees happy, but like any big
business, it's far from perfect. Amid the sheer volume of goods it sells, ranging from

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greenhouses to good ol' toilet paper, are products that sometimes get the chain in trouble. This time, the company is finding itself in deep
water over its canned tuna.

Costco Accused Of False Advertisement And Consumer Laws Violations

Costco's Kirkland Signature Solid White Albacore Tuna in Water

© Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

The tuna in question is Costco's Kirkland Signature Solid White Albacore Tuna in Water. The warehouse club sells it in a pack of eight 7-
ounce cans, and as its website confirms, the tuna is labeled "dolphin safe." Therein lies the problem, at least according to a customer who
wants to drag Costco to court over the allegedly false label.

The dolphin-safe label is not some gimmicky advertisement that tuna brands print on their cans. According to NOAA Fisheries, the Dolphin
Protection Consumer Information Act has regulations in place to ensure that dolphins and other marine mammals aren't harmed or killed
in the course of tuna fishing. The dolphin-safe label on tuna cans indicates that the brand complies with the set regulations and practices
for safe tuna fishing.

California-based customer Melinda Wright recently sued Costco, alleging that the Kirkland tuna
HEALTH | Q&A
fails to abide by dolphin safety regulations, per Reuters. She alleged that the product violates
Professional's Opinion state consumer protection laws since the white albacore tuna is reportedly caught using
Information from trusted health professionals monofilament leader and circle hooks that pose a safety risk for dolphins. Costco initially
dismissed the accusation, but U.S. District Judge William H. Orrick rejected the company's
Is tuna fish good for Albac request, allowing Wright to move forward with the lawsuit that also accuses Costco of false
health? Whic advertisement, breach of express and implied warranty, and unjust enrichment.
Answered by3 professionals Answer
Costco was further accused of "knowingly and intentionally" advertising its tuna as dolphin-
safe to "increase profits at the expense of sustainability concerned consumers and innocent
marine life." The court document reveals that Bumble Bee Foods, which uses potentially
1/5 Ask the professionals
dolphin-harming longline fishing techniques to catch tuna, is the tuna supplier for Kirkland.

Costco Is No Stranger To Such Lawsuits

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 A Costco shopper rolls a shopping cart
© ARTYOORAN/Shutterstock

Costco isn't new to scandals and legal troubles for its seafood items. In 2015, The Guardian reported that three California law firms hit the
retail company with a lawsuit alleging that it sold prawns from Thai seafood supplier CP Foods, which has a history of buying supplies
"from ships manned by slaves." Costco pledged to address the issue and offered to give a refund to customers who wished to return their
products.

While we're on the subject of fish and marine life, let's not forget about the time last spring when a family sued Costco for $200,000 after
they ate worm-infested Kirkland Fresh Wild Pacific Halibut Fillet, per ABC 7. A pair of Southern California parents allegedly bought the
product from their local Costco and cooked it the same day, when their teenage daughter discovered live worms crawling out of her fillet. 

Costco's seafood isn't the only product category that has caused controversies. The chain's famous $5 rotisserie chicken has a huge
fanbase, but in June of last year, two shareholders sued the retailer for raising its chickens in questionable conditions. According to the
lawsuit, the company's directors deliberately turned a blind eye to the unlawful production practices, adding, "Costco's illegal neglect and
abandonment is an integral part of the company's poultry production strategy." As CNN reported, Costco maintained that it hadn't breached
the standards set by the National Chicken Council.

Read this next: Mistakes Everyone Makes When Shopping At Costco

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