Costco Recalls Nearly 80,000 Pounds of Butter Due to Undeclared Milk Allergen

Costco has issued a recall for nearly 80,000 pounds of its Kirkland Signature butter products due to an undeclared milk allergen, as announced by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA)[2][4].

The recall affects two types of Kirkland Signature Sweet Cream Butter: the unsalted and salted varieties. The specific products involved are identified by their UPCs, lot numbers, and best by dates. For the unsalted version, the affected lot numbers are 2424091, 2424111, 2426891, and 2426991, with best by dates of February 22, 2025, February 23, 2025, March 22, 2025, and March 23, 2025. The salted version has lot numbers 2424191 and 2427591, with best by dates of February 23, 2025, and March 29, 2025[2].

The recall was initiated because the packaging did not explicitly state that the butter contains milk, a critical allergen that could pose serious health risks, including life-threatening allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis, for consumers with dairy allergies. Symptoms of such reactions can include hives, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, tightness in the throat, and even cardiac arrest[2].

Consumers who have purchased these products are advised to check the labels for the matching UPCs, lot numbers, and best by dates. If the product is part of the recall and someone in the household has a dairy allergy, they should dispose of the butter immediately or return it to Costco for a refund[2].

Despite the recall, there have been no reported illnesses or allergic reactions due to the mislabeled butter. However, the FDA emphasizes the importance of the recall given that milk is a common allergen responsible for many serious allergic reactions in the United States[3].

The recall has sparked significant reaction on social media, with many users expressing confusion and frustration over the necessity of labeling butter as containing milk, given its obvious dairy origin[3][5]).