Costco recalls 1 million prosecco bottles after injury

Costco shoppers who recently purchased a popular prosecco under the retailer’s private label need to check their wine racks immediately. Federal regulators have announced a massive recall affecting nearly 1 million bottles due to a dangerous defect that has already caused one person to suffer a laceration injury.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued the warning on Thursday regarding Kirkland Signature Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG sold at select Costco locations earlier this year. The bottles pose what regulators describe as a laceration hazard because they can unexpectedly break or shatter without any handling or use.

The distributor receives multiple reports

F&F Fine Wines International, operating under the business name Ethica Wines, initiated the recall after receiving 10 reports of bottles shattering or breaking. One of these incidents resulted in a customer suffering a laceration injury, prompting urgent action from both the wine distributor and federal safety officials.

The defect appears particularly concerning because the bottles can fail even when sitting undisturbed on shelves or countertops. This unpredictable nature of the shattering makes the product especially dangerous for consumers who might not realize they have a hazardous item in their homes.

Identifying the recalled bottles

The affected prosecco comes in distinctive green bottles topped with purple foil and features a purple label displaying the words Kirkland Signature Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG. Consumers can verify whether they have recalled bottles by checking the Universal Product Code, which reads 196633883742, and the Costco Item Number 1879870.

These identifying numbers typically appear on the bottle itself or on the original packaging. Anyone who purchased this specific prosecco should locate these codes immediately to determine if their bottles fall under the recall notice.

Limited geographic distribution

The recalled prosecco was sold exclusively at Costco warehouses in a dozen Midwestern states between April 2025 and August 2025. The affected locations include stores in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. The retail price hovered around $8 per bottle, making it an affordable option that likely attracted many budget-conscious wine enthusiasts.

Shoppers in other regions need not worry about this particular recall, though anyone who travels frequently or received the wine as a gift from someone in the affected states should still verify their bottles.

Safety instructions for consumers

Federal regulators emphasize that consumers should immediately stop using the recalled bottles and avoid any attempts to open them. The safest approach involves carefully disposing of the prosecco in household trash without trying to salvage the contents. Given the unpredictable shattering risk, even gentle handling could trigger a dangerous break.

After disposal, consumers should contact Ethica Wines to receive instructions for obtaining a full refund from Costco. The wine distributor has established multiple contact methods for affected customers. They can reach the company via email at [email protected] or by calling 786-810-7132 during business hours.

A recurring problem emerges

This marks the second recall notice for this particular prosecco product in just two months. Costco issued a similar warning to customers in September about the same Kirkland Signature prosecco, noting that unopened bottles risked shattering even when not being handled or actively used.

The September notice did not specify how many bottles were affected or whether any injuries had occurred at that time. However, the fact that another recall became necessary suggests the initial warning either did not reach all affected consumers or additional problematic bottles remained in circulation.

The recurring nature of this safety issue raises questions about quality control in the manufacturing or bottling process. Wine bottles typically undergo rigorous testing to ensure they can withstand normal handling, transportation and storage conditions without failing.

Costco has built a reputation for quality products under its Kirkland Signature brand, making this recall particularly notable for regular shoppers who trust the retailer’s private label offerings. The company has not publicly commented on whether it will continue carrying this specific prosecco once the safety issues are resolved.

Source: NBC News