Am I the only one whose been approaching our food system with a bit more of a side eye lately? Not because I’m concerned about seed oils or some new innocuous ingredient that we’re being told to watch out for, but simply because it seems like things are shockingly out of whack. On the one hand, it’s nice that brands are making the effort to use fewer artificial ingredients and prioritize quality, but on the other, we’ve never had more options for protein (whether we actually need them or not), and it seems like the regulations necessary to actually ensure our food is safe are being thrown out the window.
Instead of, I don’t know, approving the use of pesticides known to contain forever chemicals, maybe we could focus more on actually educating people about where their food comes from and what it takes to get it to their plate. Just a thought. But as we adjust to our new normal—for better or worse—we’ll just have to get used to staying informed as much as we can about the things in our shopping carts. With that in mind, you’re probably already on high alert for recalls on everything from potato chips to frozen food, and unfortunately, we’ve got one more to add to the list.
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Costco Ready-to-Eat Meatloaf Meal Sold in 26 States Recalled for Potential Salmonella Contamination
Adam McCullough / Shutterstock.com
If you recently stopped by Costco’s deli section and grabbed a ready-to-go Meatloaf with Mashed Yukon Potatoes and Glaze, you might want to think twice before heating it up for dinner. The prepared meal sold at Costco locations in 26 states, including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, was just recalled due to potential salmonella contamination after an ingredient in the meatloaf was found to possibly contain the bacteria. States impacted by the recall include:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Virginia
- Wisconsin
Related: Major Frozen Blueberry Recall Issued Over Potentially Deadly Listeria
How to Identify Recalled Meals
The affected product was sold between March 2 and March 13 and can be identified by the sell-by dates between March 5 and March 16, 2026. Luckily, no illnesses have been reported so far, but it’s still a good idea to avoid eating it if you purchased the meal within the past couple of days, and to dispose of it immediately. If you’ve already eaten it, it’s important to monitor your symptoms, which may take up to 72 hours to appear. Salmonella symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, chills, abdominal cramps, and in some rare cases, the infection can spread to other parts of the body.
Although deaths involving salmonella poisoning are considered rare, it’s still best to exercise caution, especially for children and adults with compromised immune systems. For more information or questions regarding this recall, you can contact Costco customer service here.
Related: Nationwide Recall Issued for This Popular Barbecue Sauce Brand—What You Need to Know
