Costco shoppers are doing a double-take over a banana-shaped sweet treat that looks whimsical on the outside but has left many people puzzled once they open the package.
And the bewilderment goes beyond the taste and texture: shoppers have also zeroed in on an ingredient list that includes salad dressing.
Here's what to know
A 12-pack of banana-flavored pastries filled with cream is sold at Costco under the simple name "Banana Bread," sold by Success Import USA. As The Takeout reported, the imported snack seems to take cues from Japan's famous Tokyo Banana cakes, though customer reactions have widely varied.
An Instagram creator, @whatericacraves, who called themself a "certified banana freak," sounded mostly baffled after trying the snack. Their review highlighted an exterior that was flexible but a little tough, and they summed up the taste as "bland nothingness."
"Has science gone too far?" one commenter asked.
Commenters then weighed the Costco snack against Tokyo Banana and argued over whether its strange texture was part of the design or just a turnoff.
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More background
Its size, shape, and color are all meant to mimic an actual banana.
For several Reddit users, texture was the sticking point. One explained, "The outer [layer] is trying to replicate a banana skin, it's soft, but the inside is much softer [and has] custard." Another wrote, "I found the texture of these offputting because I wanted it to be fluffier and the outside 'skin' is kinda tough."
Not every reaction has been negative. A handful of commenters said they enjoyed the pastries, and at least one person noted that they worked well as a playful lunchbox option for a child.
What can be done?
Smaller packs have also been spotted at Five Below, which could make it easier to try them without committing to a Costco-sized box.
Costco already sells more familiar alternatives, including its Kirkland Signature Banana Nut Loaf seasonally and individually sliced banana bread year-round.
Where can I learn more?
Banana-shaped pastries are hardly the only foods leaving shoppers scratching their heads. These articles explore that same mix of curiosity and skepticism, from reworked bread to packaged snacks made with ingredients many people would never expect.
• Food scientists are testing fermented pearl millet bread as a surprising swap for wheat sandwich loaves.
• Snack brands are turning scraps into "upcycled" foods that challenge assumptions about what belongs in packaged treats.
• Grocery aisles are filling with more sustainable packaged snacks as shoppers weigh novelty against convenience.
They also show how fast a quirky food idea can spark both interest and hesitation. That helps explain why Costco's banana-shaped "Banana Bread" landed so strangely with some shoppers.
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