Shoppers will always be worried when a large-scale product recall takes place, especially for major retailers like Costco. In April 2026 the Canadian division of Costco announced a nationwide product recall of a popular gluten-free pizza kit, due to a potential mould issue, and started giving full refunds to all customers affected by the recall. Therefore if you bought this product recently you should understand what is happening and how you can protect both your health and your bank account.
Costco Canada Product Recall Explained
Costco Canada has recently recalled Gino Bambino Gluten Free Pizza Starter Kit sold throughout Canada after Molinaro’s Fine Italian Foods Ltd. discovered there may be mould growing in them, even before the best‑before date. The CFIA has classified this as a Class 3 recall meaning that it is a lower risk to consumers but the ingredient does not comply with food safety regulations and must not remain on the shelf.
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What Exactly Happened?
- The Gino Bambino Gluten-Free Pizza Starter Kit is being recalled by Costco warehouses, Costco Business Centers, and Costco.ca. This recall affects pizza starter kits sold between December 2025 and April 2026.
- The recalled pizza kits have a best-before date of April 22, 2026 (2026 AL 22) or April 28, 2026 (2026 AL 28) and the UPC of 059949052304.
- After checking the pizza starter kits, the supplier from Ontario, Molinaro’s discovered a potential risk of mould contamination and contacted the CFIA and Costco to notify them of the possible contamination, resulting in the two entities posting a recall event requested by Costco so that customers were aware not to consume, serve, sell or distribute the pizza kits listed in the recall.
As the risk is classed as low, serious illness is considered unlikely, however, some individuals, especially those with weakened immune systems may experience gastrointestinal discomfort and allergic reactions caused by exposure to mould.
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Why Did This Recall Happen?
There are 3 main reasons behind this recall:
1. Risk of contamination with mould: Mould can grow on any food that has been stored incorrectly because of improper handling of moisture, temperature control, or packaging at any time in the food’s production, or while in storage or being transported.
Even though the package still contained a product that had not passed its labeled storage life, testing and inspection by internal personnel indicated that all kits would have been able to support mould growth, which does not conform to Canadian food safety program requirements.
2. Regulatory classification (Class 3): The CFIA states that this is a Class 3 recall, which includes food that has very low or no risk to the consumer, but also does not conform to the law’s safety requirements. The CFIA is not expecting a major outbreak of illness, from using this item; however, the CFIA does require the affected product be removed from retail merchandising and placed out of service until further notice.
3. Retailer and manufacturer response: Molinaro’s chose to initiate the recall as a precaution, and Costco followed by:
- Publicly warning customers not to eat the kit.
- Allowing full refunds at any Costco Canada location, with or without a receipt.
This approach protects consumers, reduces legal and reputational risk, and preserves trust in both the brand and the retailer.
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Costco Canada’s Statement
Costco Canada’s response to this recall has been quick, clear, and customer‑focused. The company immediately told shoppers not to consume, serve, sell, or distribute the affected Gino Bambino Gluten‑Free Pizza Starter Kit, and has set up a simple refund process for anyone who bought it.
“Please do not consume, serve, use, sell, or distribute the Gino Bambino Gluten‑Free Pizza Kits that are being recalled.”
How to Get a Refund
For customers who bought the recalled Gino Bambino Gluten-Free Pizza Kit, Costco (Canada) has made the simple refund process. Customers can receive a full refund for the product whether or not they have a receipt. The only requirement is that the product falls under this recall.
Before going to the store, confirm that your kit matches the recall details:
- Product: Gino Bambino Gluten‑Free Pizza Starter Kit 700g (Costco item 1974721).
- Lot/best‑before: 2026 AL 22 (April 22, 2026) or 2026 AL 28 (April 28, 2026).
If the kit has one of these dates, it is covered by the recall.
To get a refund, bring the unopened or leftover kit to any Costco Canada warehouse or Costco Business Centre. Staff will verify, by scanning or checking the lot code, and issue a full refund immediately. If you do not have the kit available to present, you may be entitled to receive a refund based on where you purchased your kit.
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Some locations may process your refund by using your purchase receipt as proof, while other locations may use the lot number and your membership record to process your refund, as the policy for requesting a refund may differ between provinces and stores. Costco generally allows customers to request refunds under the recall process without providing a copy of their receipt, so most of its customers do not require proof of purchase.
How Refund is Issued- Molinaro’s Customer Support
- The refund is typically processed to the original payment method (credit card, debit, or Costco Cash card).
- If any issues arise, you can contact the manufacturer, Molinaro’s Fine Italian Foods, at 1‑800‑268‑4959 or customerservice@molinaros.com for confirmation and guidance.
What Costco’s Recall means for Food‑Safety Practices
All major retailers such as Costco must be held accountable for keeping proper safety measures on each item being sold through their entire chain. When an item is recalled, it normally indicates that at least some part of that food was found to have been compromised by either a retailer’s or a manufacturer’s quality check. In this case, the problem was identified by the manufacturer, Molinaro’s Fine Italian Foods, which then notified Costco and regulators.
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The Class 3 classification suggests that serious illness is unlikely, the CFIA still requires the removal of the product from store shelves so that the general public has faith in the food safety system. The way that Costco has been able to offer full refunds to customers, along with communicating about the recall in multiple forms of media, shows how much Costco wants to protect its brand and continue to earn customer loyalty.
Wrap-UP
The fact that Costco Canada has recalled the Gino Bambino Gluten-Free Pizza Starter Kit due to a mould issue highlights the importance of checking all items before purchasing from trusted brands too. The product has now been removed from the market because of a possible mould risk, and Costco has told customers not to eat it and to return it for a full refund with or without a receipt
Such quick action from food safety systems is an example of how effective a recall process can be, and how consumers should continue to verify their products through checking product advisories and lot codes as well as checking the best before dates listed on those product packages. Thus, this particular recall serves to provide a means for consumers to receive an easy refund while providing peace of mind.
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