14 Costco Products That Have Quietly Gotten Worse (Longtime Members Are Noticing)

Low prices on high-quality generics and bulk buys are among the top Costco membership perks that shoppers enjoy. But lately, some of the warehouse club's customers have noticed a disappointing trend.

While most of the store's products are on point, some have quietly gotten worse. Not sure what to buy and what to skip? We scoured social media sites and the retailer's reviews sections for the most helpful information on what items to avoid.

So before you waste money on a supposedly subpar selection, here are 14 picks members find fault with (and a few affordable alternatives).

Editor's note: Prices and availability are subject to change and may vary by location.

Price: $6.80 per pound

The convenient Yakisoba stir-fry noodle kit is an affordable alternative to takeout. And while shoppers have always enjoyed this prepared deli selection, some members think it's gone downhill.

Redditor twitchx133 notes, "They changed the sauce, and it is terrible now. Way saltier than it was and just tastes off." But don't worry. If you're in the mood for Asian-inspired cuisine, you can still pick up Ajinomoto's Yakisoba with Vegetables in the store's frozen food section ($14.99 for six nine-ounce packs).

The fresh deli kit includes pre-cooked sous vide chicken, wheat noodles, fresh vegetables like broccoli and snap peas, and two packets of soy-based sauce, with each package weighing about 3.5 pounds and serving roughly four to six people.

Price: $12.49

Do you use this non-dairy oat beverage to make your morning cup of cappuccino? You may want to switch. Customer KellyIsEverywhere reported on Reddit, "The most recent box I bought is acting differently than before. I used to be able to froth it, and it won't froth at all, it seems a little thinner."

Each 6-pack includes six 32-ounce cartons made from organic rolled oat flour, sunflower oil, and calcium carbonate, fortified with vitamin D and riboflavin. 

Costco reformulated the recipe in late 2025, adding hydrolyzed oats and gellan gum, which may explain the frothing and thickness changes some shoppers have noticed.

Price: $14.49

Yes, it's an inexpensive bulk buy that will save you money. Compared to the cost of name-brand soap, this deal is a steal. But, according to some members, it's lost its luster.

Costco subreddit user Nesquik44 wrote, "I actually had problems with this clogging my drains. I've never had that problem with any other soap, but it left a lot of residue."

The 15-bar pack includes 4.5-ounce bars made with 5% shea butter and cocoa butter, formulated with sustainable palm and coconut oil. The formula is free of parabens, phthalates, and sulfates, and key ingredients include sodium palmate, glycerin, and sodium shea butterate.

$3.72 per pound

The freshly baked, mega-sized pies are holiday-gathering staples that shoppers absolutely adore. That said, some members aren't thrilled about recent changes.

Take it from Reddit user theworkingcollegekid, who asked, "Did Costco pies get worse? We've been buying Costco Apple and Pumpkin pies for over a decade. This year tastes...different. It tastes like they went with worse ingredients."

The double-crust pie weighs about 4.7 pounds and typically serves 8 to 16 people, with a cinnamon-scented apple filling in a flaky crust. The pie is baked fresh in-store, with organic apples, flour, and sugar among the top ingredients.

If you're looking for an entree to serve at a family dinner, skip this formerly well-liked ham. According to Redditor Reputation-Final, "Been buying it for decades. Bought two for Easter this year. First time it has been so salty to the point that it was nearly inedible."

Looking for another option? Reddit user Tym4FishOn suggests, "Go spiral. It's easier. I just had one, and it's very good."

The boneless, applewood-smoked half ham typically weighs 4 to 6 pounds and is sold at a per-pound price, making it a smaller, leaner alternative to Costco's classic spiral-sliced ham. It's fully cooked and gluten-free, and reheating instructions call for about 20 minutes per pound in a 325-degree oven.

Price: $14.74 per pound

Something changed about this fishy find, and shoppers aren't happy with the meal deal. It's not the salmon, it's the pesto butter as Redditor WanderingDirtyPawz explains, "The deli used to make their own pesto butter balls…This process takes a lot of time, and corporate decided to switch the in-house-made pesto butter with a pre-made frozen that comes shipped to them."

Each package contains three large Atlantic salmon fillets topped with basil pesto butter and fresh dill, sold at a per-pound price and ready to bake in the included tray. 

The pesto blends extra virgin olive oil, parmesan cheese, and basil, and the salmon bakes at 400 degrees for about 25 to 30 minutes.

Price: $24.99

Low-priced TP is a bulk buy bargain that can keep your budget on track. And while Costco shoppers used to rave about bathroom tissue, Redditor mnocket noticed, "It's thinner, lighter weight, and doesn't tear cleanly."

Each package contains 30 rolls of 2-ply tissue, with sheets measuring 4.5 by 4 inches. Costco has adjusted the sheet count on this item over the years, most recently down to 380 sheets per roll from a previous 425, while keeping the same overall roll size and price point. 

The tissue is Certified FSC Mix and marketed as septic safe, designed to break down quickly for standard sewer and septic systems.

Price: $15.88

These generic breaded filets are an easy option to make a quick chicken parm or a savory sandwich. While the affordable alternative to brand-name buys used to get plenty of praise, that's changed. Reddit user Gloriathewitch warned other members, "They used to be great, but I get weird bits often like chewy, grisly, and uneven sizes."

Some shoppers suggest swapping this item for Just Bare's Lightly Breaded Chicken Breast. While it costs more, the crunchy texture is worth the extra few dollars.

The 3-pound bag delivers about 22 grams of protein per fillet and is made from chicken raised without antibiotics, with no artificial ingredients or preservatives.

Price: $11.91

Members are disappointed with the once-sumptuous blend of chicken and veggies. One Costco shopper wrote on Reddit, "Chicken Corn Tortilla Soup changed recipes and I'm no longer able to eat my favorite soup."

Of course, this isn't the only option. Kirkland's prepared deli rotisserie chicken noodle soup is still a 10/10.

The pack includes two 32-ounce containers, providing roughly seven to eight one-cup servings total, made with white meat chicken along with tomatoes, corn, poblano peppers, and green chiles. It's gluten-free with no artificial flavors, and it can be heated on the stovetop or in the microwave in about five minutes.

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Price: $22.69

Former fans of this freezer section fave now take issue with this seafood selection. Reddit user kicking-chickens-jk wrote, "The flavor of the breading wasn't the same and the quality of the shrimp was lacking."

Each 2.5-pound box holds about 40 to 50 butterflied shrimp coated in premium panko crumbs, made with shrimp, wheat flour, and soybean oil. 

The shrimp are sold frozen and ready to bake, with a typical serving of five pieces containing around 200 calories and 8 grams of protein, and it can be baked in a conventional oven or air fryer for a crispy finish.

Price: $15.31

Warehouse club shoppers complain that this breakfast basic is fattier than before. Redditor WorldlyElderberry posted, "I noticed that it fried up oddly, too. It released a lot of liquid that had to evaporate first…It also seemed extra salty."

The package contains 1 pound of fully cooked, hickory wood smoked bacon with roughly 48 to 50 slices, designed to crisp up in about a minute in the microwave. 

A two-slice serving has 6 grams of fat, 320 milligrams of sodium, and 6 grams of protein, making it the saltiest of Costco's Kirkland Signature bacon lineup, according to independent taste tests.

Price: $23.99

Mopping up messes shouldn't break the bank. And that's why shoppers rely on Kirkland's generic paper towels. But in recent years, members have noticed a decline. One Costco Redditor offered a money-saving alternative: "Bounty is noticeably better and when on sale, about the same price."

The current 12-roll package includes 160 Create-a-Size sheets per roll, each measuring 11 by 7 inches, for about 1,026 total square feet. 

Costco has adjusted sheet counts on this item before, once trimming a 160-sheet roll down to 140 sheets during a supply shortage before restoring the larger size. The towels are Sustainable Forestry Initiative certified.

Price: $4.99

Members still praise this pick's succulent flavor and enjoy the low $4.99 price.

When the packaging changed, shoppers had something to say. Redditor citznfish wrote, "New rotisserie chicken bags are terrible…they have ruined the chicken."

Each bird weighs about 3 pounds and is seasoned and slow-roasted fresh in Costco's deli daily. A 3-ounce serving has roughly 140 calories, 18 grams of protein, and 350 milligrams of sodium. 

Costco sells more than 100 million rotisserie chickens a year at the same $4.99 price it's held since 2009, making it one of the most popular items in the entire warehouse chain.

Price: $6.99

The colossal bakery muffins got a downgrade last year, leaving members wondering why. Costco Redditor hunty complained about the change, "They no longer have their 12 big muffins for $10…instead they have these eight packs of smaller muffins in weird flavors."

Costco overhauled its muffin lineup in late 2024, replacing 6-packs of jumbo muffins with 8-packs of smaller ones made with real butter and buttermilk instead of soybean oil. 

Each muffin now weighs about 4 ounces, down from the previous 5.5 to 5.8 ounces, and flavors rotate among options like blueberry, chocolate, and cinnamon chip, each in its own wrapper.

Some of your favorite Costco finds may have gone from distinguished deals to total duds in recent years. But that doesn't mean your membership isn't worth the annual fee. Even though Costco customers have some complaints, you can still find plenty of premium picks.

Searching for more ways to cut costs? Here's a money-saving hint to tackle high grocery costs: Look for items with an asterisk. These soon-to-be-discontinued products are priced low to go.

Costco periodically reformulates or resizes items in response to ingredient costs, supply issues, or shopper feedback, so a product that disappoints one year may return to its old quality, or its old size, down the line. Checking recent reviews before a big purchase can help you avoid buying a full case of something that's changed for the worse.