Nearly 1 million bottles of defective Italian prosecco sold at Costco have caused at least one injury and prompted a massive recall, raising serious questions about foreign product safety standards and corporate accountability.
Story Highlights
- Costco recalls 940,000+ bottles of Kirkland prosecco due to spontaneous shattering that can cause lacerations.
- At least 10 reports of bottle breakage resulted in one confirmed injury from glass shards.
- The same defective Italian-made product was recalled previously in September 2025.
- Affected bottles were sold across 12 Midwest states for months despite a known safety hazard.
Dangerous Defect Strikes Without Warning
The Consumer Product Safety Commission issued an urgent warning about Kirkland Signature Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG bottles that can explode without any handling or attempts to open them.
F&F Fine Wines International Inc., operating as Ethica Wines, received at least 10 reports of spontaneous bottle shattering. One person suffered lacerations from flying glass fragments, highlighting the serious nature of this manufacturing defect that puts American families at risk.
Nearly 1 million bottles of prosecco recalled from Costco https://t.co/dlot4shcxO
— CBSColorado (@CBSNewsColorado) November 8, 2025
Widespread Distribution Amplifies Safety Concerns
Costco distributed these hazardous bottles across twelve states, including Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin, between April and August 2025.
The $8 prosecco bottles, identifiable by green glass with purple foil and purple labels, carry the universal product code 196633883742 and Costco item number 1879870. This extensive distribution network means nearly a million potentially explosive bottles reached American households.
Repeat Offense Reveals Systemic Problems
This recall marks the second time Costco has pulled the exact same Italian-made prosecco from shelves, following an initial recall in September 2025. The manufacturer’s failure to adequately address the underlying quality control issues demonstrates a concerning pattern of negligence.
Foreign manufacturers like Ethica Wines continue flooding American markets with substandard products while American consumers bear the consequences of inadequate overseas manufacturing standards and inspection protocols.
Consumer Safety Takes Backseat to Profits
The CPSC warns customers not to attempt opening affected bottles and to wrap them in paper towels or plastic bags before disposal. This extraordinary safety protocol underscores how dangerous these defective imports have become.
The fact that bottles can spontaneously shatter while sitting unopened on shelves represents a clear and present danger to families across the Midwest, yet it took multiple incidents and an injury before decisive action was taken.
