Costco shoppers are reporting a decline in the quality of the warehouse chain’s bakery items, with Reddit users describing muffins as resembling “cardboard soaked in artificial flavoring” and employees saying the company has shifted from scratch-made goods to frozen products. Food Republic reported on the complaints circulating on social media about the retailer’s cakes, muffins, and other baked goods.
According to the report, one Reddit user wrote that Costco’s bakery items have become “cloyingly sweet” and that the muffins no longer taste fresh, while others blamed shrinkflation for returning items that no longer meet expectations. A Costco bakery employee with three years of tenure told Reddit that the company gradually switched from scratch-made items to “frozen items that we would just toss in the oven.”
Employees Describe Move Away From Scratch-Made Goods
A Reddit user who identified as a Costco cake decorator shared that “most items come in frozen,” and even goods baked in-store tend to come from a mix rather than scratch. This contrasts with an account from a former employee who said that when they previously worked at the company, many sweets and breads were indeed made from scratch, though they noted that “things change fast.”
Some Shoppers Still Praise the Bakery Department
Not all feedback has been negative. One Reddit user wrote that their local Costco bakery “is still really good,” while another claimed it was “better than it has any right to be,” with other commenters joining in praise of the department.
Costco Bakery Quality Questions Answered
Are Costco bakery items still made from scratch? According to a current employee on Reddit, the company has shifted to frozen items that are baked in-store, and a cake decorator said most items arrive frozen, with in-store baking often using mixes rather than scratch ingredients.
What specific complaints have shoppers made about Costco muffins? Reddit users have described the muffins as tasting like “cardboard soaked in artificial flavoring” and criticized the bakery for items that are “cloyingly sweet” with changed textures.
Has Costco changed its food court pricing amid these complaints? The report notes that Costco hasn’t raised the price of its signature food court hot dog and soda combo, despite the broader trend of items getting more expensive while quality declines.
The shift in production methods comes as Costco maintains its reputation for value elsewhere in the store, with the company resisting price increases on its iconic food court combo even as bakery shoppers notice changes in the products they buy.
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