Do You Still Miss These Discontinued Items From Costco?
There's no denying that Costco is essentially the Promised Land when it comes to shopping, especially in bulk. You could probably live your entire life comfortably within the confines of its walls and never go hungry, thirsty, or even bored. If you need something, you can most likely find it at Costco. Unfortunately, in recent years, some items that were once available at Costco have been discontinued. See what they are and why they're no longer offered.
Polish Dogs
Although Costco's Polish dogs were included on the food court menu as a healthy alternative to their classic hot dogs, they were taken off of the menu back in 2018. Unsurprisingly, customers were up-in-arms about the decision to remove the item, with the hashtag #SaveThePolishDog hitting the Twitter feed.
Most likely, this is because the Polish dog was only appealing to select customers. But have no fear, the hot dog isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
All-American Chocolate Cake
For chocolate cake lovers, Costco's American Chocolate Cake was the cream of the crop in terms of a satisfying dessert. The cake was four layers of chocolatey goodness and topped with chocolate shavings, making it unique to Costco.
Yet, it disappeared in 2019 without even a decent explanation as to why. People were so upset by this that a petition was created on Change.org that acquired more than 3,000 signatures! Now that's some dedication to a cake!
BBQ Beef Brisket Sandwich
While this particular food court item may have only been available at select locations, BBQ lovers were in dismay when the brisket sandwich was discontinued to make room for healthier options.
Being priced at $4.99, it was one of the more expensive items on the menu and therefore wasn't as popular. However, since its removal in 2018, in recent years, at some locations, the sandwich has returned as a seasonal item.
No Seafood From Unsustainable Sources
Costco further proved its commitment to providing the best quality products from the best sources when the superstore chain announced it would eliminate any seafood from their stores that wasn't sourced from sustainable fisheries or farmed aquaculture.
In an effort to protect our ecosystem, Costco also does not sell wild fish species that have been identified as at-risk for population depletion.
Chocolate Flavored Frozen Yogurt
Although you can still get classic vanilla and some other flavors, chocolate didn't cut it when re-doing the food court menu. The change was announced in 2018 at a San Luis Obispo location.
Unsurprisingly, another petition was set in motion but only received 300 signatures. Clearly, the chocolate frozen yogurt won't be as missed as Costco's other discontinued items. Hang in there, chocolate lovers!
Kirkland Turkey Burgers
If you weren't already aware, Kirkland makes just about any product that you might need to live a normal life, this includes frozen turkey burgers. At just 200 calories a patty, these turkey burgers were a favorite among customers that were being particularly health-conscious.
Yet, in 2018, they were taken off the shelves to the disappointment of many of their loyal buyers. Instead, Columbus burgers have been added as a replacement, although they appear to have good reviews.
Kirkland American Cheese
For some reason, American cheese is becoming less and less popular as the Millennial generation is getting older. So, this might be the reason why Kirkland's Signature American cheese is no longer available in the world of Costco.
While Kraft Singles don't seem to be going anywhere, this cheese just wasn't selling to the point that it was worth stocking on the shelves anymore. Furthermore, the slices weren't individually wrapped, which some people found inconvenient.
Roundup
At one point, if you had a weed problem at your house, Costco had the answer in the form of the weed-killing product Roundup. However, Costco was quick to remove the product after a Change.org petition garnered 85,000 signatures following billion-dollar lawsuits against the company that claimed the herbicide caused cancer.
Although Monsanto, who owns Roundup, claims that it's safe to use, the World Health Organization classifies one of its ingredients, glyphosate, as "probably carcinogenic to humans."
Fresh Made Gelato
Only available at some Costco locations, some stores offered a nice treat of gelato in flavors such as chocolate, strawberry, mixed berry, and even pistachio. In addition, it was only $1.50 for three scoops on a cone and almost $5 for a quart to take home.
However, after the item disappeared off the menu, it was announced that the gelato was just an experimental item. It was considered a failure and therefore didn't move to other locations.
Kirkland 5-Pocket Jeans
The Kirkland 5-Pocket jeans were a staple to many Costco shoppers. So, when they were discontinued for some time in 2016, some people were very displeased. Although they reintroduced the pants shortly after, some altercations were made that customers found to be unsatisfying.
One user on Reddit even claimed that the new jeans were sub-par compared to the old ones since they had a new fit and thinner material. While Kirkland jeans are still sold, true fans hold the originals close to heart.
Kirkland Golf Balls
Golfers were thrilled when Costco released their Kirkland golf balls in 2016, although the golf company Titleist had some issues. Apparently, the balls violated several Titleist patents, resulting in a lawsuit.
Furthermore, in 2018, the original product was pulled out and replaced by Kirkland Performance One golf balls, which customers complained weren't nearly as durable, leading Costco to refund the product. Unsurprisingly, this product was then pulled, although Kirkland Signature Three-Piece Urethane Cover Golf Ball Performance Plus is available.
Caged Chicken Eggs
In 2020, Costco announced that they would no longer be selling caged chicken eggs in the name of animal welfare, although it would take several years to rid the stores of them entirely.
Impressively, by the end of the 2020 fiscal year, Costco showed that 93.2% of their eggs in the United States stores were cage-free and had achieved 100% in countries such as France, Spain, and the United Kingdom. If you want to make sure your eggs are cage-free, all you have to do is check the carton.
Kirkland Light
Once a grace from God for college students, Costco once offered a 48-pack of Kirkland Light for just $22! Yet, they were taken off the shelves in 2008. However, despite the incredibly low price of just 50 cents a can, the overall beverage was pretty despicable.
Although the cans ended up in many Costco shopping carts over the years, maybe as a spontaneous purchase thinking it's a good buy, nearly all have come to regret that decision.
Palmetto Cheese Spread
While there may not have been anything necessarily wrong with the product itself, Costco discontinued the item after the brand owner, Brian Henry, attacked a protest group on Facebook.
Although Costco has not commented on removing the spread, Henry told The Post and Courier, 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."
