Protein was one of the biggest food trends of 2025, showing up everywhere from snack aisles to coffee menus. Packaged food brands boosted protein in cookies and chips, social media users scrutinized unexpected sources, and Starbucks leaned into higher-protein drink options. As we head deeper into 2026, the fixation shows no signs of slowing — and for good reason. Protein's documented benefits — supporting muscle health, promoting fullness, helping keep energy levels steady th

Dairy prices in 2026 are moving in one direction. The USDA recently revised its forecasts upward for cheese, butter, and milk — predicting increases that make the already-significant price gap between Costco and conventional grocery stores wider, not narrower. Kirkland feta, cream cheese, and butter are half the name-brand price at Costco. Organic eggs at Costco are priced below what most grocery stores charge for conventional eggs from less-verified sources. Dairy is one of

The most important sentence about health and wellness at Costco in 2026 did not come from a wellness influencer or a nutrition brand. It came from Costco's own CFO, Gary Millerchip, discussing the company's most commercially significant new product developments: the Kirkland Signature Beef Stick is "doing tremendous volume," while CEO Ron Vachris noted that the Kirkland Signature Ultra Filtered Protein Milk "has just taken off." These are not coincidental product highlights.