Costco’s $4.99 rotisserie chicken has long been an extremely popular food choice for some of the company’s most loyal customers. Many of the people who regularly purchase the product may not know that the USDA has flagged concerns about a facility that supplies the company with a significant portion of its fresh chicken.
USDA Data Shows High Salmonella Levels at One of Costco’s $4.99 Rotisserie Chicken Supplier
On the website for Lincoln Premium Poultry, it prominently states that it provides chicken sold to Costco customers. “Founded in Fremont, Nebraska, Lincoln Premium Poultry was created to deliver a quality product for Costco members.” The website also states that Lincoln Premium Poultry is owned by Costco before describing its goals. “Our owner and customer, Costco Wholesale, relies on Nebraska and Iowa farmers and team members to provide that every step of our poultry operation reflects the highest level of technology, sustainability, and excellence.” A December 2025 Farm Forward report states that some of Lincoln Premium Poultry products are used for Costco’s $4.99 Rotisserie Chicken, while others are sold fresh.
In October 2025, Consumer Reports published its findings on “The Most Contaminated Poultry Plants in the U.S.” One of the many facilities listed in that report is the Lincoln Premium Poultry plant in Fremont, Nebraska. The consumer company’s website states it has been operating for 80 years and describes its goals. “Consumer Reports has long worked to help consumers make informed choices and influence the marketplace.”
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is the agency that performs inspections for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. On the FSIS website, it describes the Performance Standards Salmonella Verification Program for Raw Poultry Products category findings. “Category 1: Establishments that have achieved 50 percent or less of the maximum allowable percent positive during the most recently completed 52- week moving window. Category2: Establishments that meet the maximum allowable percent positive but have results greater than 50 percent of the maximum allowable percent positive during the most recently completed 52-week moving window. Category 3: Establishments that have exceeded the maximum allowable percent positive during the most recently completed 52-week moving window.”
The FSIS publicly reported results for Lincoln Premium Poultry between June 2024 and May 2025 named the facility a Category 3 for “Young Chicken Carcasses” and a Category 2 for “Chicken Parts.” A previous version of the same report spanning from September 2023 until August 2024 came to the same findings, with a Category 3 and a Category 2. It is this history that likely inspired Consumer Reports to name the facility as one of “The Most Contaminated Poultry Plants in the U.S.”
There is some good news for Costco customers and the company. The most recent version of the FSIS’s report had better findings for Lincoln Premium Poultry. The report that spans from December 2024 to November 2025 gave the facility a Category 2 in both areas. That obviously is a substantial improvement.
Thermoworks reports that chicken should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F to eradicate foodborne pathogens like Salmonella bacteria. The outlet also states that chicken leg meat should be cooked to 170-175°F due to the increased muscle tissue. Safe food handling is also imperative to avoid cross-contamination.
Men’s Journal contacted Costco for comment regarding the Lincoln Premium Poultry findings more than 48 hours before publication, but did not receive a response.
