Costco food court favorite drink under scrutiny: shoppers urged to skip it

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• What visitors are saying
• Costco?s strawberry-banana update and the backlash

Costco?s food court remains a viral draw, but a recent round of taste-testing and customer feedback has cast doubt on one of its healthier-seeming options: the fruit smoothie. Shoppers should know the drink?s nutrition claims and why many say the texture and flavor fall short before they order.

The chain?s menu lists the fruit smoothie at $2.99, advertising ?no added sugar?, roughly 230 calories and the equivalent of several servings of fruit. A closer look at the ingredients shows the deep berry color comes from frozen strawberries, blackberries and a?a?, while apple, pear and pineapple juice concentrates round out the liquid base.

What visitors are saying

Reactions online are split. Several forum posts call out a thin, icy mouthfeel and describe the taste as leaning toward a processed fruit-juice note rather than fresh berries. Others praise the drink?s low calorie count and mild sweetness.

Common complaints focus on texture and flavor balance rather than safety. Testers expected a richer, creamier smoothie but instead found a drink closer to a diluted slush, which many felt undermined the beverage?s perceived value.

Costco?s strawberry-banana update and the backlash

Responding to the feedback, Costco introduced a strawberry-banana version that replaces some of the a?a? and blackberry elements with banana puree and pineapple juice. But that variant has its own issues: the chain?s nutrition information shows the new recipe adds about 25 grams of sugar and roughly 100 extra calories.

Customers who tried the strawberry-banana option frequently described it as noticeably sweeter, with banana dominating the flavor and leaving little strawberry presence. For many, that shift traded one problem (thinness and muted fruit notes) for another (overly sweet taste and lost balance).

• Original fruit smoothie ? Price: $2.99; Calories: ~230; Sugar: no added sugar listed; Texture: thin/icy; Verdict: mixed ? healthier profile but criticized for texture and artificial fruit notes.
• Strawberry?banana smoothie ? Price: similar; Calories: ~330; Added sugar: ~25g; Texture: slightly thicker; Verdict: too sweet for many, banana flavor often dominates.
• Other food-court picks ? Examples such as the chocolate ice cream cup tend to score higher on taste tests despite being less “healthy.”

One recurring suggestion from shoppers: adding frozen banana to the mix can improve mouthfeel and sweetness without relying on added sugar. Of course, that?s only an option if you prepare a smoothie at home rather than buying straight from the counter.

For shoppers weighing their choices, the takeaway is practical: if your priority is a low-calorie, dairy-free refreshment, the original smoothie checks boxes on paper but may disappoint on texture and flavor. If you want more body and sweetness, the strawberry-banana version delivers?but at a measurable cost in added sugar and calories.

If you?re planning a Costco run and care about taste as well as nutrition, consider ordering one of the food court?s more reliably praised treats or bring your own mix-ins to customize the smoothie experience.