Costco, the retail giant renowned for its bulk bargains and loyal membership base, has issued a sweeping recall of its caramel mini beignets after a packaging mishap led to a potentially life-threatening allergen risk. According to a recall notice reported by multiple local outlets and confirmed by the company, some packages of the caramel mini beignets—sold in clamshell containers—actually contained chocolate-hazelnut–filled pastries. The problem? The presence of hazelnuts, a tree nut allergen, was not disclosed on the label, putting unsuspecting customers with tree nut allergies at serious risk.
The affected product, identified by item number #1181272, was distributed between January 16 and January 30, 2026, in 22 states across the U.S. The recall spans a broad swath of the country, including key markets like California, New York, Florida, Texas, and many others. The urgency of the recall was underscored on February 10, 2026, when news outlets and Costco’s own communications warned consumers not to eat the mislabeled beignets and to return them to any Costco warehouse for a full refund.
Undeclared allergens remain one of the leading causes of food recalls in the United States, and this latest incident highlights just how crucial accurate food labeling can be. According to Costco’s recall notice, as reported by local outlets, exposure to hazelnuts can trigger life-threatening reactions in those with tree nut allergies. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wasted no time in assigning its highest risk level—Class 1—to the recall, a designation reserved for situations where there is a reasonable probability that use of the product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.
To put it plainly, a Class 1 recall is the FDA’s way of saying, “This is as serious as it gets.” For context, the FDA classifies food recalls into three categories: Class 1, where the risk is severe and potentially fatal; Class 2, where health consequences are temporary or reversible; and Class 3, where violations are unlikely to cause health problems. In this case, the mislabeled beignets were deemed an immediate and significant threat to consumers with tree nut allergies.
According to the FDA and as reported by NTD, the recall affected 8,073 packages of baked goods sold at Costco Wholesale locations in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, and Texas. The ingredient label on the dessert listed wheat, egg, milk, and soy, but omitted any mention of tree nuts—a critical oversight given that almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, filberts, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, and walnuts are all considered tree nuts by the FDA.
“We are sorry for any inconvenience this recall may have caused,” Costco said in its recall notice, as reported by WCNC on February 2, 2026. The company urged consumers not to eat the affected beignets and to return them to any Costco warehouse for a full refund. For those with questions, Costco directed customers to its customer service portal.
Food safety experts and legal professionals weighed in on the recall, emphasizing the importance of third-party testing and consumer vigilance. “The public should look for third-party testing to ensure that the products they are purchasing contain what the label claims,” Stephen Wagner, managing partner and attorney at Wagner Reese, told NTD. Wagner also noted that since the recall was voluntary, “the manufacturer could very well have discovered the problem on their own.” Company leaders, however, did not respond to requests for comment about how the mislabeling was discovered.
The recall comes at a time when food labeling and allergen transparency are under increased scrutiny. In recent years, the FDA has expanded its list of major food allergens to include sesame, alongside milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans. Accurate labeling is not just a regulatory requirement—it’s a lifeline for millions of Americans living with food allergies. When a product’s label fails to disclose the presence of a major allergen, the consequences can be dire.
For those unfamiliar with the risks, hazelnut exposure in allergic individuals can lead to anaphylaxis—a rapid, severe, and potentially fatal allergic reaction. Symptoms can include swelling, difficulty breathing, a sudden drop in blood pressure, and even loss of consciousness. Immediate medical attention is required in such cases. That’s why the FDA and retailers like Costco treat undeclared allergens with the utmost seriousness.
This latest recall is not the first time Costco has faced scrutiny over its food labeling practices. The company is currently embroiled in a class-action lawsuit alleging that its Kirkland Signature rotisserie chickens were falsely advertised as free of preservatives, despite containing sodium phosphate and carrageenan, according to court reporting. While the two incidents are unrelated, together they paint a picture of the challenges facing large-scale food retailers when it comes to transparency and consumer trust.
So, what should consumers do if they purchased the affected product? The guidance is clear: do not consume the beignets. Instead, return them to any Costco location for a full refund. The company has made it easy for customers to get their money back, and customer service representatives are available to answer questions.
The recall also serves as a reminder of the importance of checking food labels, even from trusted retailers. While most consumers don’t expect to find undeclared allergens in a product from a company as reputable as Costco, mistakes can happen. And when they do, swift action and transparent communication are essential to protect public health.
Looking ahead, the incident may prompt both retailers and regulators to revisit their processes for quality control, labeling, and recall management. In an era where food allergies are on the rise, and consumers are more aware than ever of what they’re putting into their bodies, the margin for error continues to shrink.
For now, Costco’s recall stands as a stark reminder: when it comes to food safety, there’s no such thing as being too careful. As the FDA’s Class 1 designation makes clear, the stakes are simply too high to ignore.