It can be incredibly frustrating to spend money and time grocery shopping only to discover something wrong with one of the items. After a Canadian-based Costco shopper unwrapped her $16 Kirkland Colby Jack cheese block, she called out the wholesaler for the alleged fuzzy green mold spots on it.
As she stands in her kitchen, TikTok creator Meg (@missmeegg) has a block of Colby Jack cheese cut in half on her kitchen counter. The larger half is still in the wrapper, where it appears ordinary. But the smaller piece has what appears to be mold spores on it.
“I love when I pay $16 for a block of cheese and it has fresh gross mold over it,” she says sarcastically, picking up the moldy chunk. As it turns out, the other block isn’t mold-free.
When she lifts the larger piece, she reveals a couple of dark specks at the bottom. “Am I going to return it? No, because I don’t have time to go back to return it,” the content creator remarks.
Meg continues to express her frustration in the caption, “Costco Canada you are a POS.”
Viewers offer suggestions
The video garnered over 26,000 views. Some advised returning the cheese, citing Costco’s generous return policy.
“Should’ve just returned it. They’ll take anything back for returns,” one wrote.
“Email or call Kirkland. They’ll ask which store and when you bought it then send you coupons for a new block,” another suggested.
Meanwhile, others recommended removing the mold and eating it.
“I know it sucks but factories that sell the cheese just cut it off and ship it to you like that. You’re ok to cut it off and eat it,” a third proposed.
“Just cut off the moldy parts. it’s still good,” a fourth echoed.
Ultimately, she ended up keeping it. “It’s being eaten,” she replied to a viewer.
Is moldy cheese safe to eat?
It depends on the moisture content of the cheese. Typically, hard and semi-hard cheeses are safe to eat with mold. Food & Wine states this is due to their lack of moisture. Since Colby Jack is a semi-hard cheese, removing the mold is safe. To salvage it, Healthline recommends shaving off at least one inch around and below the mold. However, soft cheese, such as mozzarella, cottage cheese, or ricotta, should be discarded.
@missmeegg Costco Canada you are a POS #costco #pissoff ♬ original sound – missmeegg
Is Costco at fault?
Contamination can occur during any stage of the production, whether it’s milk pasteurization, ripening, coating, or packaging. Since Colby Jack is a semi-hard cheese, it is the most prone to it in the packaging process. Essentially, ScienceDirect attributed it to high levels of fungal spores in the air of the production facility as the main source of contamination. To prevent this, the filtration system needs to be monitored using the air sampler and the equipment regularly sanitized. Because third parties manufacture Costco products, the blame lies with the production facility.
The Mary Sue reached out to Meg via TikTok comment and direct message as well as Costco via media contact form.
Update Aug. 18, 2025:
During an interview with the Mary Sue, Meg shared that this took place at a Costco in Dartmouth. As soon as she was preparing dinner, she noticed the mold.
“When I arrived home to cook supper, I chopped the top of the block off the shred, as I typically do, and noticed the piece I chopped off had mould all over it,” she shared via email. “Then, further my investigation, it was all up the side of the cheese block. You could tell it was from whatever it was originally cut with, was obviously not sterilized as the pattern of mould was scattered.”
As a result, she was livid.
“My immediate thoughts were ‘what a waste of time and money’ I was angry. Costco is a journey with two kids and I just don’t have time to go back to stand in the return line, which is always SO long.. even though the cheese cost $16.00.”
In addition to the cheese, she also has a bone to pick with the life span of the wholesaler’s products.
“The products I buy from Costco don’t seem to have a long life span anymore. Produce goes bad so quickly and this is just frustrating as I’m paying good money for a quality of product I am not getting. Mistakes happen of course but their quality seems to be poor in many areas now,” she said.
Nevertheless, the content creator still plans to shop at Costco because it’s the more affordable option.
“I will continue to shop at Costco because it’s the best place for affordable food for my family but I am definitely not heading there as often as I used too,” Meg explained. “Every dime counts these days in this economy with a big family. If I am paying almost $20 for a block of [expletive] cheese. At least I’d expect the quality to be good.”
Overall, she blames big corporations for this.
“I did put it in my freezer and hopefully can get around to taking it back but something else will happen and my attention will be taken away from it and I’ll probably forget. Life is busy,” she said. “How about big corporations just do better and supply good product if you’re charging an arm and a leg. It’s not my fault this happened.”
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