These Are The Products That Costco Decided To Discontinue

Polish Dogs

It was a rude awakening for all of us. Costco got rid of its Polish dogs in 2018 to make room for more healthy food court menu options. Customers were outraged by the decision, and they took to Twitter to protest using the hashtag #SaveThePolishDog. Unfortunately, their efforts were in vain, and Polish dogs remain off the menu. Friends, don’t worry. The regular, all-beef frankfurter is still available, and Costco’s $1.50 hot dog and soda combo aren’t going away anytime soon.

Polish Dogs

Kirkland Signature Light Beer

Costco stopped producing Kirkland Signature Light Beer in 2018, for better or worse. The 48-packs cost $22, which works out to less than 50 cents per can. While the beer had a cult following among budget-conscious partygoers, it was not without its detractors. The brew’s aroma has been compared to a “urine-soaked diaper sitting on a piping-hot radiator” by one RateBeer reviewer. With that kind of feedback, it’s no surprise Costco didn’t keep it. Although the light beers are no longer available, a $20 craft-brewed variety pack with pale, blonde, brown, and India pale ales may still be available.

Kirkland Signature Light Beer

All American Chocolate Cake

Costco abruptly abandoned this glorious mountain of rich, chocolatey goodness without explanation, leaving customers puzzled and troubled. The four-layer chocolate cake was topped with chocolate shavings and a thick layer of frosting. Nobody knows why Costco stopped producing it; all we know is that it vanished in 2019 and is now the stuff of legend. The loss sparked a petition on Change.org, which received over 3,000 signatures.

All American Chocolate Cake

Hand-Dipped Ice Cream Bars

Costco discontinued this delectable dessert in 2013, but seasoned shoppers recall it fondly. At the food court, a vanilla ice cream bar dipped in chocolate and encrusted with toasted almonds was only $1.50. Some speculate that rising almond and dairy prices prompted Costco to remove the treat from its menu, even though the retailer has been known to sell roast chickens at a loss. Kirkland Signature vanilla almond ice cream bars were also available in the freezer section, but fans of the food court version say they couldn’t compare.

Hand Dipped Ice Cream Bars

Roundup

Costco may have removed this Monsanto-owned weed-killer from store shelves due to a Change.org petition with over 85,000 signatures. Zen Honeycutt, the founder of Moms Across America, started a petition asking the retailer to stop selling Roundup after billion-dollar lawsuits claimed the herbicide caused cancer. Roundup would no longer be sold in American warehouses, Honeycutt announced on her website after speaking with three people from Costco headquarters. Several cities in the United States have either banned or restricted the substance.

Roundup

BBQ Beef Brisket Sandwich

Fans were outraged when the retailer swept grease aside to make room for healthier meals, even though this food court favorite was only available at a few Costco locations. The beef was juicy and dripping with sweet BBQ sauce, and it was topped with creamy coleslaw. However, at $4.99, it was unlikely to attract the same level of attention as the menu’s lower-priced items. In 2018, Fortune reported that “at least some” warehouses had discontinued the BBQ beef brisket sandwich, but Kitchn suggested in 2019 that it resurfaces as a seasonal item on occasion.

BBQ Beef Brisket Sandwich

Chocolate Frozen Yogurt

Costco’s chocolate frozen yogurt was another item that didn’t make the cut when the warehouse revamped its food court menu, though vanilla is still available. San Luis Obispo’s The Tribune first reported in 2018 that a Costco in the California county had stopped selling chocolate yogurt, and it appears that other locations followed suit. Despite the 300 signatures on a Change.org petition opposing the transition, Costco does not appear to be planning to reinstate it.

Chocolate Frozen Yogurt

Kirkland Signature Turkey Burgers

Costco removed this healthy item from store shelves the same year it removed many fattening items from its food court menu. At only 200 calories per patty, the extra-lean turkey patties were a welcome alternative to beef and a popular choice among customers looking to lose weight. A concerned citizen started a Change.org petition to bring the turkey burgers back, but there has been no word on their return. Thankfully, the Columbus turkey burgers currently available at Costco have received mostly positive feedback.

Kirkland Signature Turkey Burgers

Kirkland Signature American Cheese

Given how quickly millennials are killing American cheese, it’s no surprise that Costco pulled the plug on this Kirkland Signature product. Kirkland Signature cheese slices were not individually wrapped, unlike the still-popular Kraft Singles. Consumers were split on whether the convenience was worth the unnecessary packaging. Many people believed that the store brand product tasted better than the name brand competitor, but in the end, Kraft won out over Kirkland. “Sales were dropping on the KS stuff,” writes Costco Panda, a self-professed insider on Reddit. “Down several million dollars a year. Made more sense to increase our purchase volume from Kraft and, in turn, get a better price.”

Kirkland Signature American Cheese

Fresh Made Gelato

Depending on whether your Costco food court served it, some of you may recall this one. Gelato in flavors like strawberry, chocolate, stracciatella, pistachio, and mixed berry was available at some locations for $1.50 for a three-scoop waffle cone and $4.99 for a quart to go. According to a Change.org petition (with over 100 signatures), Costco stopped selling gelato in 2015. According to Reddit user CellSalesThrowaway2, the food court favorite was only a trial offering on the menu deemed a failure after a year.

Fresh Made Gelato

Cuddle With Me Dolls

Customers found a Cuddle With Me doll to be racially offensive, so Costco stopped carrying it in 2009. Each doll came with a plush panda or monkey and was available in three ethnicities: Caucasian, African American, and Hispanic. A Costco member in North Carolina complained about the African American doll, which was paired with a monkey and a banana and wore a headband labeled “lil’ monkey.” Costco immediately removed all sets containing the plush monkey from its shelves. Even though the other versions were available for a while, Costco appears to have completely phased out the collection.

Cuddle With Me Dolls

Kirkland Signature Performance One Golf Balls

Costco is known for its generous return policy, but after a relaunch of its Kirkland Signature Performance One golf balls fell short of expectations, the retailer decided to discontinue the product altogether. The golf balls were first released in 2016. Customers were thrilled, but Acushnet Holdings Corp., the parent company of golf ball manufacturer Titleist, was not. The company claimed that Costco’s product infringed on Titleist patents, and the two companies went to court. In 2018, the case was settled, and Costco withdrew its original product. The wholesaler soon introduced a new version of its Performance One golf balls, but many customers complained about its lack of durability.

Kirkland Signature Performance One Golf Balls

Threatened Seafood

Costco launched a sustainable seafood policy in 2011 after an eight-month Greenpeace campaign convinced the retailer to remove several wild-caught species from its seafood section. “Costco must use its massive buying power to leverage positive change in our oceans,” according to the environmental group. Greenpeace claims to have gathered more than 100,000 signatures for its “Oh-No-Costco” campaign. Wild seafood species “that have been identified at great risk,” such as Atlantic cod and halibut, shark, and Bluefin tuna, are no longer sold at the store. Costco also added some wild salmon varieties to its menu in 2019.

Threatened Seafood

Chaokoh Coconut Milk

Several retailers, including Costco, recently removed Chaokoh coconut milk from their shelves after PETA accused the company of harvesting coconuts using monkey labor. PETA claimed that Theppadungporn Coconut Co., a Thai supplier, sourced its coconut milk from facilities and farms that used caged monkeys. According to USA Today, the company has signed memorandums of understanding with its suppliers stating that no monkey labor is used on their farms. Costco Vice President of Corporate Food and Sundries Ken Kimble wrote to PETA’s president in September 2020, saying the wholesale club was investigating its suppliers but would pull the product from store shelves for the time being.

Chaokoh Coconut Milk

Eggs From Caged Chickens

Costco announced in 2020 that as part of its animal welfare policy, it would only sell cage-free eggs in its stores around the world. However, depending on suppliers, it could take a few years to get there. In the United States, 93.2 percent of Costco’s eggs were cage-free as of the fiscal year 2020, but the wholesaler has already met its 100 percent goal in France, Iceland, Spain, and the United Kingdom. You can look for the cage-free certification on your egg cartons before you buy them. Cage-free Costco products include Kirkland Signature Organic Large Brown Eggs and Kirkland Signature Liquid Egg Whites.

Eggs From Caged Chickens

Costco-Branded Cookbooks

Costco used to publish and distribute its handy cookbooks for members on Thanksgiving weekend for over a decade, but it stopped doing so in 2015. Recipes straight from suppliers in the Costco Way cookbooks have been replaced. “Each month, the Costco Connection e-zines feature a “Farm to Table” section. “The only polite word that comes to mind to describe this is: LAME,” wrote The Costco Connoisseur, who was less than pleased with the swap. Costco cookbook fans can still find archived copies by searching “Cooking the Costco Way” on Costco Connection’s website if they haven’t kept their old copies.

Costco Branded Cookbooks

Kirkland Signature Frozen Four-Cheese Ravioli

Customers loved this tasty instant pasta stuffed with ricotta, asiago, parmesan, and Grana Padano cheeses, as evidenced by the enraged Facebook comments demanding its return. MelanieCooks, a food blogger, said the product tasted “just as good as the cheese ravioli in Italian restaurants” and that she wouldn’t be surprised if restaurants were charging inflated prices for the Kirkland Signature pasta. Although no formal announcements have been made about the ravioli’s untimely demise, the product is no longer listed on the Costco website. Customers say it has been a long time since it was available in-store.

Kirkland Signature Frozen Four Cheese Ravioli

Palmetto Cheese

Last year, Palmetto Cheese was reportedly pulled from Costco shelves after brand owner Brian Henry made a public Facebook post criticizing a popular protest group. According to the Post and Courier, pimento cheese will no longer be available in more than 120 Costco locations across the United States, with one Myrtle Beach location stating that it has been discontinued and will not be reordered. Costco has yet to comment on the product being removed. Henry told the news outlet that “Costco rotates items in and out during 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.” Now take a look at these next items from Costco which people have suggested not to buy…

Palmetto Cheese

Electronics

As many customers seem to gravitate towards groceries, clothing, or toiletries, others tend to get distracted by electronics. Take advice from us – this is not a good idea! Besides the fact that many do look pretty amazing, it’s really not worth the money. Studies gathered information from the many reviews saying that there are, in fact, better bargains in other stores. So skip the electronics from Costco!

Electronics

Kirkland Signature Paper Towels

For those who love to stock up on household products in huge quantities, especially from Costco…this may not be the best idea. Of course, there are major advantages of shopping in bulk, but Costco is not recommended to do so. A recent study was done that revealed Kirkland placed third out of the four tested brands. Additionally, Consumer Reports did research on the top 5 brands of paper towels. Kirkland ended up in the last spot! What came out of it was that the paper towels are way too thin to combat anything that has to do with difficult, messy jobs.

Kirkland Signature Paper Towels

Books

You may not know that the Costco book aisle is really good. Their prices are, in fact, cheaper than other stores, but the books are available online at even cheaper rates, on Amazon, for example. Certain bookstores may also offer good deals. Books for both children and adults are available, however many people have said that their quality is super low.

Books

Sunscreen

The summer heat can be pretty brutal in many parts of America, which is why it is so important to pack on that sunscreen. But of course, you need to make sure it is good quality and effective sunscreen. Customers have said that Costco’s sunscreen is not the worst out there, but if you are buying in bulk, be sure to check the expiration date. There’s nothing like a huge waste of money when buying in bulk.

Sunscreen

Cooking Oil

Those bulk sizes of cooking oil are not the good buy they seem unless you’re running a diner or deep-frying turkeys on Saturdays and Sundays. The cooking oils from the Kirkland Signature sold on Costco.com come in two packs. 2.84 liters of oil per bottle were included in the canola oil two-pack; 3 liters of oil per bottle were included in the two-pack olive oil and Mediterranean blend oil. That’s a great deal of oil.

Cooking Oil

Salty Snacks

As with bulk-buying cereal, if you purchase them in overly large packs, you face the risk of your salty snacks going monotonous. In grocery stores, smaller bags of name-brand potato chips, tortilla chips as well as equal salty snacks often go on special offer, maybe at a 50% discount. When snack manufacturing companies run some of their best promos, stock up ahead of major sports events.

Salty Snacks

 Sweets

Here’s the point: you might have been able to save up cash at Costco on sweets… but is the great quality of cheap candy really what you want and need? If you’re trying to stuff your piñata, maybe the answer to that is yes, admittedly. But if this is for your homes, considering your well-being and your love of a bargain would be sensible.

Sweets

Personal Care Products

Don’t overdo it with those Costco care products buys, even though the price is right. “Personal care products often come in massive bottles or in multi-packs. I prefer multi-packs because the product inside stays fresh, but a general rule is that you should only buy personal care products that you go through quickly,” Bodge said. “Certain products, like face creams and sunscreen, may spoil or lose their efficacy over time.”

Personal Care Products

School And Office Supplies

Even though these products do not expire, this is just an area where even the best option for deals may not be Costco. “School and office supplies are really expensive at Costco,” says Zakaria. “You can find a much better deal by shopping at Target or Walmart during their back-to-school shopping sales.” Unfortunately, no matter how much you buy, you still don’t save from Costco.

School And Office Supplies

Bread And Pastries

Fresh bread and pastry goods don’t last very long, and if you buy in bulk, these are products that you may not get to use while fresh. Plus, there won’t necessarily be the best price for the warehouse retailer. Even though they have a wide selection of cakes, breads, and cookies, you may want to stay clear from these foods.

Bread And Pastries

Kirkland Signature Marinara Sauce

Spaghetti sauce is hard to mess up. But evidently, in the Italian condiments department, Kirkland Signature is really not killing it. If you really need to make a very big quantity of spaghetti, there have been better sauce brands that you can buy in bulk. It seems as though the customers have already spoken. Kirkland, you can’t really win them all.

Kirkland Signature Marinara Sauce

Hummus

We all love hummus, too, although we have no clue why you’re going to need Costco’s big container. And when you do, there’s going to be food waste in your future. The better deal is the small containers from standard supermarkets.

Hummus

Jerky

If you believe that beef jerky will remain great for a long time since it has salt as well as spices, you’re completely mistaken. After you open it up, it is crucial to put it in the fridge.  You also might recognize that if you look at the packages, it appears to say to eat the item no more than three days after you open it. After you put it in the fridge, the jerky will only last for around a week or two. Just get the bundles that are smaller!

Jerky

Protein Bars

We don’t know why someone gets 40 bars of Costco protein bars when they still have to try them out. The uncertainty is not good enough to justify it! These food products go for about $1 apiece on top of that. Then maybe you should get large purchases from Pure Protein bars on Amazon. A bar tends to cost just under $0.90 over there!

Protein Bars

Body Lotions

You should rely on vouchers if you want to save cash when you purchase lotions. A bit of patience could really take you much further! With the appropriate sales and coupons, when you ditch Costco and go to another store, you can purchase these goods at a lower cost. Also in many of the Costco stores across America, certain body lotions have also been discontinued

Body Lotions

 Canned Goods

Do not go to Costco if you are planning to purchase canned goods. If you are able rather choose to buy from a different store, as these products go for around 20 percent to 40 percent cheaper. It comes as no surprise during sales that they’d be affordable! Even though they have a large selection of canned goods, it’s been recommended to shop elsewhere.

Canned Goods

 DVDs

Are you still a huge DVD admirer? If that is so, you must keep from getting your Costco movies and just purchase at Amazon. Not only are the prices much better and the choices greater, but the e-commerce company will deliver the product to you as well! This in our opinion, is totally worth it.

DVDs

Disposable Razors

If you believe that purchasing disposable razors in large quantities is a great idea, you must avoid Costco and then go to Walmart instead. At Costco, for $23, you can get 14 Kirkland razors. A razor tends to cost $1.64 apiece at this price. 10 Gillette disposable razors at Walmart go for $7.97 or $0.80 per piece. It’s almost half the price!

Disposable Razors

Calzones From The Costco Food Court

Despite the fact that it’s been a while, longtime Costco customers can recall the delicious calzones that were once obtainable in their food hall. The meat calzone was the best of the lot. The calzone’s crust was soft and perfectly seasoned. When you cracked it open, you discovered beef, pork, sauce, cheese, and other goodies. Costco even provided a side of marinara sauce for dipping, just in case you wanted more flavor.

Calzones From The Costco Food Court

Costco’s Kirkland Signature Trek Mix

Kirkland Signature Trek Mix was really the ideal snack for enthusiastic hikers looking for a compact, nutritionally balanced, and tasty snack, as well as avid couch potatoes who liked to eat their snacks by the pocketful. Sadly, it is no longer available. It was discontinued by Costco, and despite the fact that it was replaced with a variety of trail and snack mixes, nothing is being capable of filling its void.

Costco’s Kirkland Signature Trek Mix

Costco’s Kirkland Signature French Comte

Kirkland Signature French Comte has been one of the finest cheeses Costco has ever sold. This cheese, produced in France, was unlike any other available in the United States without costing an arm and a leg. It had been aged for at least eight months and had a strong flavor without being overpowering. If you enjoy savory foods, you’ll enjoy this cheese.

Costco’s Kirkland Signature French Comte

Cigarettes

In the last decade, there has been a significant reduction in the number of retailers that sell tobacco products, and Costco is one of them. The company began removing cigarettes from its shelves in 2016, and the process was completed nationwide within a few years. However, it does not appear to be a decision based solely on customer health concerns. During a discussion with Money, a company representative told reporters: “Tobacco is a very low margin business, tends to have higher theft and is labor-intensive in some cases (due to local municipality regulations)—further, we felt we could better use the space to merchandise other items.”

Cigarettes

Studded Tires

Yes, the same restaurant chain that sells rotisserie chickens also gets to sell car tires. The studded variety, however, is not one of them. While studded tires can provide more traction on icy surfaces, they can also cause road damage. Pat McClintock, the corporate tire buyer at Costco, told the Spokesman-Review newspaper in 2007 that the retailer had stopped selling studded tires because it was “environmentally responsible.”

Studded Tires

Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels From Costco Food Court

And while Costco’s churros are delicious in their own right, they can’t compare to the cinnamon sugar pretzels which used to be sold in their food stalls. While standard pretzels were available at Costco, the cinnamon sugar variation was the most popular.

Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels From Costco Food Court

While we’re at it, frequent shoppers in Costco would probably miss these items. Aside from the cheap prices Costco offer for such products, it’ll definitely be hard to find substitutes for these items. However, you can always try new products that you think might work for you. Here are some of the products in Costco that you should try and also what you shouldn’t!

Buy- Maple Syrup

Real maple syrup, as we already know, can be quite costly. The substitute, which is packed with corn syrup and tastes nothing like the real thing, is most likely used in your favorite breakfast restaurants. Kirkland was wise to create their own Pure Maple Syrup, which is a best-seller due to its large 1L size and low price.

Buy- Maple Syrup

Don’t Buy- Books

The book aisle at Costco is great for one thing: browsing. Online retailers like Amazon are your best bet, even if the prices are a little lower than in other stores. Many specialized bookstores also sell used books for a bargain.

Don’t Buy- Books

Buy- Toilet Paper

The ultra-soft toilet paper offered by Costco is a must, despite the fact that the rolls are quite large and the 30-roll pack takes up a lot of space. When you see the price tag, you won’t mind giving up some space…talk about a bargain! The same can be said for the paper towels sold at Costco.

Buy- Toilet Paper

Buy- Olive Oil

Olive oil is being used in almost every cuisine, so it’s a must-have in your kitchen. We recommend purchasing one of Costco’s large options. You won’t have to worry about running out of anything, and you’ll save a lot of money. It’s not only extra-virgin, organic, and high-quality, but it’s also a good value for money.

Buy- Olive Oil

Don’t Buy- Ground Coffee

Is there anyone else who considers coffee to be a religion? Okay, we’ll admit it. Many people can’t imagine starting their day without a cup of coffee, and if you’re one of them, you should pay attention. You’ll save money by ordering a larger size, but you’ll miss out on something important: the taste. Because coffee beans are exposed to air after being ground, they lose their flavor and strength. If freshness is important to you, you’ll want to avoid the large jar.

Don’t Buy- Ground Coffee

Buy- Gas

Even though all of Costco’s storage facilities shut down and only their gas stations remained open, having a membership would still be beneficial. Fill up here because the gas prices are so low, and don’t forget to take out your Costco card the next time you use your credit card!

Buy- Gas

Buy- Frozen Fruits

This item may persuade you to purchase a second freezer, but trust us when we say that you will save money in the end. Frozen produce is the best item to buy in bulk because it can be kept for a long time. While frozen fruit is a popular choice, if you have the space, include some vegetables as well.

Buy- Frozen Fruits

Don’t Buy- Fresh Fruits And Veggies

This is, without a doubt, a difficult one. While purchasing your family’s favorite fruits in bulk may appear to be the best option, you can save money elsewhere. Local grocery stores often have better deals, especially on out-of-season fruits and vegetables.

Don’t Buy- Fresh Fruits And Veggies

Kirkland Signature 5-Pocket Jeans

Costco briefly phased out its Kirkland Signature 5-Pocket Jeans for men in 2016 to reintroduce them with “design improvements” in 2017. Fans of the original “dad jeans” were, however, dissatisfied with the changes. Because of its thin material and different fit and design, a customer on Reddit claimed the newer version was a poor substitute. According to dozens of disgruntled Facebook commenters, Costco appears to have halted production of these jeans entirely (possibly replacing the Kirkland Signature brand with Urban Star).

Kirkland Signature 5 Pocket Jeans

Kirkland Signature Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

Customers at Costco said the Kirkland Signature peanut butter cups are comparable to Reese’s. As one satisfied Amazon user put it: “Kirkland brand nails it. The peanut butter is super creamy. There is just the right amount of chocolate. This decadent marriage of chocolatey, salty creaminess is almost too good to be real. DO NOT have these in the house if you are on a diet.” However, the beloved product is no longer listed on the store’s website, and fans lament that they are no longer available in stores.

Kirkland Signature Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

Name-brand clothing

Ever noticed all those designer clothes at your local Costco? Of course, you have, well, just a heads up, and they are really poor quality compared to the items of clothing you will find in the original brand store. Most of the producers like to economize where possible, especially when it comes to Costco products. By all means, if you love that t-shirt – grab it while you can. But be well aware that the quality is not the finest.

Name Brand Clothing

Kirkland Laundry Detergent

You may save a great deal by using Kirkland laundry detergent. However, you will quickly realize it is not a decent product to use. You will be spending money on new clothing at the end of the day since this brand will ruin your clothes. The detergent is known to damage clothes as well as cause health issues. To add to the list, it is also not environmentally friendly!

Kirkland Laundry Detergent

Costco’s Kirkland Signature Body Soap

Who knew the end of soap would have been such a massive issue? After Costco discontinued their Kirkland Signature Body Soap, users on Reddit expressed their displeasure with the course of action. While this may appear to be an exaggeration, the poor quality of the soap sold by Costco makes it completely easy to understand. This body soap lathered up nicely, moisturized your skin gently, and it seemed to last a long time than some other products.

Costco’s Kirkland Signature Body Soap