Costco's rotisserie chicken is known for its flexibility, taste, and $4.99 price. These famed roasted birds have a huge drawback for some Costco buyers.
A Costco user posted on Reddit this week that their rotisserie chicken causes diarrhea and flatulence.
That Costco consumer wasn't the only one with gastrointestinal difficulties after eating the popular fowl.
"I have this problem with the rotisserie chickens too OP, so you're not alone," a Redditor wrote.
The tweet ignited a debate over why the popular Costco dish may be so bad for digestion. Some Redditors blamed chicken fat or seasonings.
Others suspected carrageenan, a component in Costco's rotisserie chickens. This theory may be correct.
Lisa R. Young, Ph.D., RDN, nutrition consultant and author of Finally Full, Finally Slim and The Portion Teller Plan, says seaweed-derived
carrageenan can stabilize and emulsify food. Carrageenan can cause bloating and cramping, but Young said patients
"However, no studies on carrageenan's effect on digestion have been conducted on humans," Young stated.
Young advised stomach-ailing folks to limit or avoid Costco's chicken. It's unclear if the carrageenan is to blame.