Inside Look: What Really Happens to Returned Costco Food – Insights from a Former Employee

If you’re worried about food waste, you aren’t alone. The Environmental Protection Agency reports that over 60 million tons of food are wasted in the U.S. each year. A significant chunk of this waste comes from grocery stores. So, if you’re thinking about returning food you’ve purchased, you might hesitate.

Good news for Costco shoppers! Costco has a friendly return policy for non-perishable items. They donate unopened, returned food, including items like bread and meat that go unsold, to organizations helping those in need. However, if it’s fresh or frozen food, they need to throw it away due to safety and liability concerns.

Have you ever considered returning food? It can be beneficial for both you and the retailer. Costco has a no-questions-asked return policy for items that spoil before the expiration date—even if you’ve eaten part of it. Each return helps Costco understand which products are popular and what they might need to stock more of.

When you return non-perishable items, Costco can send them to food banks. Organizations like Feeding America help provide food to people in need. In 2022, they secured over 2 billion pounds of food through donations from retailers.

Returning food not only gets your money back but also helps the community. Your feedback is valuable and can guide grocery stores in making better decisions about what to sell. So next time you’re unsure about a return, remember it could help reduce waste and assist those facing food insecurity.