Costco is facing a class‑action lawsuit from two California shoppers who say the retail giant misled customers by promoting its $4.99 rotisserie chicken as preservative-free. The complaint argues the product contains two additives, sodium phosphate and carrageenan, that act like preservatives by helping maintain moisture and texture. The chain has kept the price unchanged for nearly two decades and the chicken remains a major draw for shoppers. According to the lawsuit, Costco’s “no preservatives” message, used in stores and online, led customers to believe the product was more minimally processed than it actually is. The plaintiffs argue that the presence of sodium phosphate and carrageenan contradicts that claim and violates consumer protection laws.