The Most Debated Decisions In Costco’s Food History

Costco makes changes to its food (and its food court) all the time. This is no big surprise, obviously: Lke any major retailer, it’s constantly assessing what’s working and what isn’t, both in terms of what the customer wants and likes, and what makes sense for the business. The latter, however, has meant that (again, like any major retailer), sometimes it makes decisions that feel as though they’re absolutely not in the best interests of a lot of the people who buy their food in the first place. 

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Not all of them, though. Over the years, Costco has made a lot of decisions that have sparked debate across its customer base – and interestingly, a lot of the most hotly contested choices have been in recent memory. Let’s see which decisions have sparked the most debate. 

Costco’s New Chicken Bag

In 2024, Costco customers had to reckon with the fact that its rotisserie chicken containers were changing – and as you might expect, a lot of conversation was had. Costco replaced its original clamshell design with a plastic carrier bag, which, it’s fair to say, looked a little bit messier and flimsier, but which undoubtedly cut down on plastic waste.

The latter fact meant some customers supported the change, but the people who hated it really hated it (and still hate it). Customers said the new bags leaked more and made the chicken skin soggy, and were altogether way messier. Doesn’t look like it’s gonna change them back any time soon, though. 

Goodbye, Pepsi; Hello, Coke

I mean, this one was always going to be controversial. Last year, Costco started replacing all of its Pepsi products in its food courts with Coca-Cola products, and the switchover continued throughout the rest of the year and into 2026. Costco had been stocking Pepsi since 2013, having switched over to the brand to save money and ensure that its hot dog and soda combo could stay at $1.50. 

This year, though, it was no more – and people were up in arms about it. Why? Because of the eternal Pepsi vs. Coke debate that continues to rage on. Some people prefer one, some prefer the other. A tale as old as time. It doesn’t look like Costco’s got any plans to change it back, though. 

The Removal Of The Onion Crank

Remember the onion crank? This pre-COVID relic used to be a staple in Costco’s food courts. You’d wind it up, the crank would dispense some freshly ground onions, you’d put them on your hot dogs, and everyone would be happy. 

And then, Costco got rid of them. This pandemic-era decision was made to improve the hygiene of its food courts, but once the pandemic began to subside, Costco decided not to bring them back. This choice was mourned by a lot of customers, who felt like the onion crank added value to the whole food court experience, what with its interactive nature and all. Others, though, felt like it never really needed to be there in the first place, and that it created way too much mess.