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15 Unhealthiest Costco Foods

We've scoured through Kirkland foods and cult favorites to find the worst picks at the wholesale giant.

Its sheer size alone can intimidate Costco regulars and newbies alike. Whichever pool you fall in, you probably already know that the savings are worth pushing your cart down endless aisles. But if you're health-conscious about the groceries you buy for your family, sifting the wholesome products from the unhealthy food items is no easy feat at Costco.

To streamline your weekend shopping trip, we've compiled the worst foods—both Costco's exclusive Kirkland Signature brand as well as cult favorites you'll find at your local supermarket—that you should avoid at the wholesaler. From frozen party appetizers to pounds of meat that can keep in the freezer for months, find out which picks are not worth seeking coupons for. And while you're learning which foods to avoid during your next grocery trip, check out The 100 Unhealthiest Foods on the Planet!

1

Inland Market Blue Crab Spread

container of inland market blue crab spread

Per 2 oz (55 g): 125 calories, 8 g fat (1 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 230 mg sodium, 8 g carbs (0 g fiber, 0 g sugar), 5 g protein

If you're looking to entertain and pair this blue crap dip with crunchy tortillas, seek a savory spread elsewhere. Inland's creamy dip boasts a laundry list of ingredients that include multiple sources of added sugars.

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2

Kirkland Signature Sliced Turkey Breast

kirkland signature turkey breast

Per 2 slices (56 g): 60 calories, 1 g fat (0 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 460 mg sodium, 1 g carbs (0 g fiber, 0 g sugar), 10 g protein

While we're all for stacking sandwiches with lean protein, Kirkland's Signature Sliced Turkey Breast is probably your worst bet. Just two slices pack in a walloping 460 milligrams of heart-harming sodium. That's nearly as much salt as in 53 Rold Gold pretzel sticks!

RELATED: Your ultimate restaurant and supermarket survival guide is here!

3

Gabila's Potato Knishes

box of gabilas potato knishes

Per 1 knish (128 g): 180 calories, 2.5 g fat (0 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 428 mg sodium, 36 g carbs (2 g fiber, <1 g sugar), 4 g protein

This Jewish classic will take a serious toll on your waistline. One knish packs in about a fifth of your day's worth of sodium and barely any fiber to justify that carb count. Plus, will just one knish satisfy your craving? You're bound to go back in for seconds and double snacktime's sodium intake.

And while you're shopping, steer clear of The One Thing You Should Never Order at Costco's Food Court.

4

Kirkland Signature Chicken Bakes

kirkland signature chicken bakes
Courtesy of Costco
Per 1 sandwich (227 g): 540 calories, 19 g fat (5.99 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 1,370 mg sodium, 58 g carbs (2.95 g fiber, 6.99 g sugar), 35 g protein

We're big fans of healthy frozen foods—they cut down prep time and don't require a recipe. However, these fatty chicken bakes don't fit the bill. With over half a day's worth of sodium and an ingredient list that resembles a horror novel, this dish shouldn't be in your shopping cart.

5

Cuisine Adventures Spanakopita Spinach & Feta Phyllo Triangles

box of frozen cuisine adventures spanakopita

Per 3 pieces (85 g): 200 calories, 11 g fat (3 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 290 mg sodium, 20 g carbs (1 g fiber, 1 g sugar), 7 g protein

Three small veggie-and-cheese-stuffed phyllo triangles pack in 200 calories and 11 grams of fat. Yikes!

RELATED: This 7-day smoothie diet will help you shed those last few pounds.

6

El Monterey Chicken & Cheese Taquitos

box of el monterey frozen taquitos

2 taquitos: 250 calories, 13 g fat (3 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 340 mg sodium, 23 g carbs (1 g fiber, 1 g sugar), 10 g protein

Taquitos are never a good idea if you're watching your waistline, and these Monterey Chicken and Cheese roll-ups are no exception.

7

Kirkland Signature Cheese Pizza

frozen cheese pizza from costco

Per 1/4 pizza (120 g): 290 calories, 12 g fat (6 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 660 mg sodium, 34 g carbs (2 g fiber, 4 g sugar), 12 g protein

If you're choosing the right cheese pizza—one with low-fat cheese, no-sugar-added tomato sauce, and a garden of veggies—you can benefit from a balanced meal that crushes cravings. However, Kirkland's Signature Cheese Pizza serves up more than 600 milligrams of blood-pressure-spiking sodium and includes inflammatory soybean oil and added sugar in its recipe. No thanks.

RELATED: Learn how to harness the power of tea to lose weight.

8

Lorna Doone Shortbread Cookies

lorna doone shortbread cookies

Per 4 cookies: 140 calories, 7 g fat (1.5 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 150 mg sodium, 19 g carbs (0 g fiber, 5 g sugar), 1 g protein

Soybean oil, palm oil, artificial flavor, and high fructose corn syrup are just some of the sketchy additives tossed into these shortbread cookies. A study out of the University of the Philippines Diliman linked fructose, like that found in high fructose corn syrup, to diabetes and metabolic diseases.

9

Keebler Sugar Wafers, Vanilla

keebler vanilla sugar wafers

Per 4 wafers (31 g): 150 calories, 7 g fat (3 g saturated fat), 30 mg sodium, 22 g carbs (0 g fiber, 15 g sugar), 1 g protein

The first ingredient in these sugar wafers is—you guessed it—sugar! Unfortunately, the crunchy sweet treats contain more than just the belly-busting carbohydrate. Keebler elves sneak artificial dyes into their vanilla wafers such as red #3, yellow #5, and yellow #6, which have been linked to ADHD symptoms in children, a study in the journal Neurotherapeutics found.

RELATED: The easy guide to cutting back on sugar is finally here.

10

Oreo Sandwich Cookies

Oreos
Courtesy of Oreo
Per 3 cookies: 160 calories, 7 g fat (2 g saturated fat), 135 mg sodium, 25 g carbs (0 g fiber, 14 g sugar), 1 g protein

We love a good sandwich cookie stuffed with velvety creme, but you'll want to kick milk's favorite cookie to the curb after discovering this. Aside from containing more than half a day's worth of added sugar, Oreos contain phosphates, which may be linked to kidney disease, a study in Diabetes Journals found. If that's the way the cookie crumbles, we don't need the bulk box.

11

Kirkland Signature Gourmet Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Man grabbing multi pack bulk of cookies from costco
Icatnews/Shutterstock
Per 1 piece: 210 calories, 11 g fat (5 g saturated fat), 125 mg sodium, 27 g carbs (1 g fiber, 16 g sugar), 2 g protein

Walking into Costco's bakery aisle is kind of like strolling into an Auntie Anne's—the wafting smell of baked goods is enough to spark cravings. Unfortunately, these chocolate chip treats won't make your scale too chipper. Each cookie contains five grams of saturated fat and 16 grams of sugar.

12

Kirkland Signature Butter Croissants

costco bakery croissants
Shutterstock
Per croissant: 320 calories, 16 g fat (10 g saturated fat, 0.5 g trans fat), 36 g carbs (1 g fiber, 6 g sugar), 6 g protein

Who doesn't love a croissant, egg, and cheese? Avoid grabbing the bulk box of these buttery baked goods, though, as just one crescent packs in a staggering 10 grams of saturated fat, a half-gram of trans fat, and just one gram of fiber, making for 35 grams of empty carbs.

13

Kirkland Signature 12" Cheesecake

shelves of costco cakes
Shutterstock
Per 1/16 cake: 420 calories, 29 g fat (18 g saturated fat, 1 g trans fat), 330 mg sodium, 34 g carbs (1 g fiber, 27 g sugar), 6 g protein

We're hoping you're not picking up this cheesecake. With 18 grams of saturated fat, one gram of trans fat, and 27 grams of sugar, this treat is simply unjustifiable. Save this sweet vice for a special occasion. And even then, avoiding slicing out seconds.

14

Pierre Signatures Angus Cheeseburger

pierre signatures frozen angus cheeseburgers box

Per sandwich (174 g): 500 calories, 27 g fat (10 g saturated fat, 1 g trans fat), 820 mg sodium, 40 g carbs (2 g fiber, 6 g sugar), 25 g protein

These frozen burgers are packed with 820 milligrams of sodium, along with a gram of trans fat. Yikes!

15

Marie Callender's Chicken Pot Pies

marie callenders frozen chicken pot pie

Per 1 cup (200 g): 410 calories, 22 g fat (9 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 770 mg sodium, 43 g carbs (4 g fiber, 5 g sugar), 11 g protein

With 770 milligrams of sodium per serving—which, by the way, is only half of the pot pie—this frozen meal gets a hard thumbs-down.

And while you're at Costco, don't miss these 30 Cheap Costco Buys That Make the Membership Worth It.

April Benshosan
April is a born-and-raised Brooklynite who has a passion for all things health, wellness, and tastebud-related. Read more about April