In what’s being called one of the more ridiculous recalls of the year, the FDA has ordered nearly 80,000 pounds of Kirkland Signature butter—Costco’s popular private-label brand—off shelves in Texas. The reason? The packaging failed to include a “Contains Milk” allergy statement. Yes, butter, made from cream, which in turn is made from milk, is being yanked because it didn’t tell people it, well, contains milk.
The recall affects both salted and unsalted versions of Kirkland Signature Sweet Cream Butter, which Continental Dairy Facilities Southwest, LLC produces. On November 7, the FDA issued a Class II recall, which covers products that could lead to “temporary or medically reversible” adverse health consequences. The butter packaging lists “cream” as an ingredient, but without the explicit “Contains Milk” statement, the FDA decided this was reason enough to pull the product.
Naturally, the internet had a field day with this recall, with some calling it a prime example of bureaucratic overreach. Users on social media labeled it “the dumbest possible reason” for a recall, and one commenter pointed out it exemplified “the stupidity that Elon Musk talks about.” After all, it’s hard not to question the necessity of a “milk” warning on a product known universally to contain milk.
80,000 pounds of Costco butter was just recalled, because the label doesn’t say that it contains milk.
It’s butter.
News articles are telling people how they can return, or safely dispose of, the butter.
It’s butter.
— Spike Cohen (@RealSpikeCohen) November 11, 2024
For Costco customers affected by the recall, Food & Wine reported that the FDA hasn’t yet released instructions for those who have purchased the butter. The typical recommendation in cases like this is to either discard the product or return it to the store for a refund. However, with no reported illnesses or adverse reactions linked to this oversight, many are wondering whether the recall is even necessary. The butter itself is perfectly safe for those without dairy allergies, and, as one witty user on X noted, it could come in handy for the holiday baking season—implying they’d gladly accept any unwanted butter.
The FDA is forcing Costco to throw out 80,000 lbs of real butter…..because there’s no “warning” it contains milk on the carton. 🤦🏼♀️
Meanwhile, how many toxic chemicals are in margarine and “I Definitely Believe it’s Not Butter?”https://t.co/wC9SZzA5n8 pic.twitter.com/mbZZmxBiRI
— Mindy MF Robinson 🇺🇸 (@iheartmindy) November 11, 2024
The specific affected batches include over 46,000 pounds of unsalted butter and 32,000 pounds of salted butter, all with “Best By” dates between February and March 2025. This butter recall follows an interesting trend of seemingly redundant label requirements on well-known products. While these rules aim to protect consumers with severe allergies, it’s worth questioning whether every product needs to warn buyers about the most basic, self-evident ingredients.
If you bought Costco butter, ignore this. It’s dumb. BTW, it’s an example fof how we need a return of common sense, and proof that the FDA needs to be gutted. https://t.co/jIPNa8YfVs
— Brother Eric (@01IOTA) November 11, 2024
For anyone without dairy allergies, the FDA’s guidance might feel like a drastic move that disrupts a product people know and trust. And for those who rely on butter for holiday cooking and baking, this recall might seem more like a holiday inconvenience than a safeguard. As one Texas news outlet pointed out, the butter is indeed safe to use, and Costco customers are unlikely to face issues unless they or a family member have a serious milk allergy.
Costco is facing some critics online after announcing a recall of 80,000 pounds of Kirkland Signature butter because the product doesn’t have an allergy warning that butter “contains milk.” https://t.co/jPWfJnesUc pic.twitter.com/727E6FfZaN
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) November 12, 2024
In the end, this recall serves as a reminder of just how literal regulatory agencies can be, sometimes at the expense of common sense. So while the FDA sorts this out, Costco fans can keep an eye on their local store shelves, hoping the butter will be back in time for the holiday season—or they can join those eager customers willing to take the butter off someone’s hands.
