Costco recalls Kirkland Prosecco over glass-shattering risk; tightens early shopping hours for Executive members
Safety alert affects bottles sold in 11 Midwestern states; retailer also enforces new paid-membership access policy after grace period
Costco Wholesale issued a safety alert and recall for bottles of its Kirkland Signature Prosecco Valdobbiadene on Monday, warning that some bottles may shatter without warning, even when left unopened.
The recall applies to product item #1879870 sold between April 25 and Aug. 26, 2025, at Costco warehouses in 11 Midwestern states: Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. The company urged members who purchased the product to dispose of any unopened bottles immediately and not to open them.
In a letter to members, Costco instructed customers to wrap the unopened bottles in paper towels, seal them in a plastic bag and place them in the trash to avoid risk from shattered glass. The retailer said the bottles should not be returned to stores; instead, members seeking reimbursement can bring the warning letter to their nearest Costco location to claim a full refund.
Costco did not specify how many cases or bottles were affected. Ethica Wines, the distributor of the prosecco, is handling consumer inquiries and can be reached at customercare@ethicawines.com or by phone at (786) 810-7132 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern.
The safety alert follows consumer reports of bottles breaking without being opened. Costco said it apologized for any inconvenience to members and emphasized the specific item number covered by the recall.
Separately, Costco has begun strictly enforcing a new policy that grants early-shopping access exclusively to Executive members, an action that took full effect Aug. 31 after a grace period that began June 30. Executive members pay $130 annually and are now allowed to enter warehouses one hour earlier on weekdays and Sundays and 30 minutes earlier on Saturdays. Gold Star and Business members, who pay $65 a year, no longer receive those extended early hours.
Costco said the change is intended to reward loyalty among its highest-paying members and to ease overcrowding during peak shopping times. The shift to exclusive early access has drawn criticism from some members and workers online and prompted comparisons to rival chains that have long used tiered membership access.
Customers and employees voiced concerns on social media that a recent hiring freeze and reduced store hours could make it difficult for some warehouses to open earlier, potentially undermining the intended benefit of the policy. Posts on the social platform Reddit reflected frustration from shoppers who had relied on earlier hours and from employees who said the new schedule added operational strain.
Industry observers noted the tiered-access model is not unique to Costco. Sam’s Club, operated by Walmart, has offered a paid Plus membership with additional benefits, including earlier access and other perks, for years; as of 2025, Sam’s Club basic membership was priced around $50 and its Plus tier around $110. Costco’s move aligns with a broader retail strategy of using premium membership levels to drive revenue and manage store traffic.
The prosecco recall and the membership-policy enforcement come as Costco continues to navigate post-pandemic demand patterns, supply-chain costs and labor pressures. Safety notices like the recall highlight product-liability and consumer-protection responsibilities for large retailers, while the membership change underscores an increasing focus on revenue from higher-tier subscriptions.
Costco members affected by the prosecco recall are advised to follow the disposal instructions in the membership letter and to contact Ethica Wines with questions. Members seeking refunds should bring the recall notice to a local Costco. The company did not indicate whether the recall would be expanded beyond the specific item number or the listed states.
Costco did not immediately provide additional comment on the timeline for the membership policy rollout or on plans to address member and worker concerns beyond stressing the enforcement of the new hours. Retail analysts said the move could boost fee revenue from upgrades to Executive membership if members value the hour-earlier access, but the long-term impact will depend on member response and store-level execution.