Bought Wine at Costco? "Do Not Open, Dispose Immediately"... 940,000 Bottles Urgently Recalled in U.S.

Costco Recalls 940,000 Bottles of Wine in the U.S.
"Risk of Breakage Even If Unopened... Must Be Disposed of Immediately"

Costco in the United States has urgently recalled approximately 940,000 bottles of its private brand (PB) Kirkland Signature wine. This action comes after a series of incidents in which bottles shattered before being opened, causing glass shards to scatter. At least 10 cases of bottle breakage have been confirmed within the United States, with one incident resulting in injury. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) stated that the product "poses a serious hazard" and recommended that consumers immediately stop using and dispose of the wine.

Costco has decided to urgently recall its private brand (PB) Kirkland Signature sparkling wine 'Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG'. Costco

Potential Instability of High-Pressure Gas

According to CBS NEWS on November 8 (local time), the recall targets the Kirkland Signature sparkling wine 'Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG.' This product was sold for about $8 between April and August at Costco stores in 12 U.S. states (Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin).

The CPSC reported, "There have been at least 10 cases where bottles broke even though they had not been opened," adding, "One consumer suffered a hand injury from glass shards." The Associated Press reported, "It is believed that the high-pressure carbon dioxide gas inside the bottle accumulated in an unstable manner, causing the bottles to explode."

"Do Not Open-Dispose of Immediately"

The CPSC urged consumers, "Do not open the recalled wine and dispose of it immediately." The agency further emphasized, "Because of the risk of breakage, wrap the bottle in tissue or a plastic bag and discard it with regular household waste." Due to the high internal pressure of sparkling wine, even minor manufacturing defects such as insufficient glass thickness or poor cork sealing can significantly increase the risk of explosion, meaning bottles can break even while refrigerated.

This recall was implemented just two months after Costco issued a notice for the same product in September, warning that "bottles may break even if unopened." At that time, the warning was limited to a "safety alert," but it has now been elevated to an official recall. Costco stated, "We place the highest priority on consumer safety and are working closely with authorities to carry out a swift product recall."

As of now, Costco Korea has not issued any notice regarding a recall of this product in the United States. However, due to Costco's global supply chain structure, there remains a possibility that products subject to overseas recalls could enter the domestic market.