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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be fed up with buying rotten food?!

72 replies

SallyBrownEyes · 28/02/2011 21:57

Tonight opened a packet of steaks bought yesterday and 2 were rotten, stinky, brown masses. They are well within sell by date and looked OK yesterday. This happened a month or so ago with a pack of mince from same supermarket. I'm getting annoyed that the supermarket I switched to due this type of thing happening at the last one is now selling their rotten old stuff to me. Same with veg, rotton or near rotten on the shelves waiting to be bought for good money! Has anyone else noticed the quality of food is in steep decline? I'm annoyed that they think people will continue to happily part with their hard earned cash for their rotten old cast offs!!! Angry

OP posts:
ClittyClatterous · 28/02/2011 22:02

I always re-wrap the offending item and take it back. Although I shouldn't have to I also do not want to waste my money by throwing things away. It may also be logged somewhere why I brought the item back.

My Mum swears by transfering her meat in to a metal bowl and covering it. She says the plastic makes it go off. I'm not that organised.

SeeJaneKick · 28/02/2011 23:16

I've not found this...always take it back if it''s bad though!

starfishmummy · 28/02/2011 23:26

Not found this myself with meat. Take it back and complain. Ask for your petrol/bus fare to be refunded as well.

Punkatheart · 28/02/2011 23:45

Make a complaint. It is the only way places will change.

Many years ago, I complained about rotten fruit at my local Tescos. The manager gave us a free shop. Actually I found it a bit embarassing. All I wanted was oranges that were NOT covered in green mould.

DramaInPyjamas · 28/02/2011 23:49

Tesco are terrible for fresh fruit and veg.

galletti · 28/02/2011 23:51

Take it back OP, and complain.

EveryonesJealousOfGingers · 28/02/2011 23:59

I have had this and had good success with ringing up to complain, rather than having to slog back to the shop with a bagfull of rancid meat - I think Sainsburys have given me Nectar points in the past.

EveryonesJealousOfGingers · 01/03/2011 00:01

That reminds me, I once had a bag of peanuts and raisins which had salt in them - I imagine some kind of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory style production error - salty raisins are not pleasant!

chillichill · 01/03/2011 02:01

either the packet had a small hole letting air in, or it sounds like they have a problem with the fridge if the food is in date but off. I would be reluctant to buy meat kept in.that fridge again and maybe even suggest they get it checked.

Lizcat · 01/03/2011 07:57

Take it back the supermarket beginning with W replaces the item and gives you the money back.

Bloodymary · 01/03/2011 08:02

Take it back!!!!!!

chocoholic · 01/03/2011 08:11

Have you tested the temperature in your fridge?

Original poster
SallyBrownEyes · 01/03/2011 08:59

My fridge is fine! I was poisoned by one of their pre packed salads once years ago too! Quite often I pass on their beef as it all looks pretty awful! I am going to email a complaint now with pictures and have the offending meat in my freezer. They sent me a goodwill gesture for the rancid mince I bought BUT it's not the point! There I was preparing my meal starving and tired to then pull out the meat which had mutated into black rot and the rest of the meal had to be thrown. Sick of it plus one of the steaks were fine, just as some of the mince was fine. I think they are mixing old meat with new trying to palm it off. The next supermarket up will have to be Waitrose and quite honestly I ain't that rich!!!

OP posts:
Bucharest · 01/03/2011 09:06

My Mum found a dead thingy in a box of M and S frozen raspberries and got 3 boxes of raspberries and a £50 voucher.

It's not just food.....Grin

You sound very unlucky with produce Sally, maybe it's time to name and shame!

SeeJaneKick · 01/03/2011 09:18

A dead thingy! Shock I HATE thingy's....

SeeJaneKick · 01/03/2011 09:19

Thingies! Not Thingy's

Original poster
SallyBrownEyes · 01/03/2011 09:29

Ewww! Yes I am unlucky with food actually! The list is endless stones in sandwiches, glass in tinned salmon (own brand I might add), lumps of rubber in baby food, oh even disintergrated conveyor belt in my microwave dumplings!!! I have been served up rotton olives and salad for starters then paella which had obviously been scraped up from last nights pan at a well known Spanish restuarant (refused to pay) and had never had the pleasure of tasting off butter until I visited a new restaurant for a lovely jacket potato! Oh and the classic plastic in pre packed salads (the pot types with cheese or prawns etc in them), so common I gave up on them years ago!

OP posts:
mrsscoob · 01/03/2011 10:51

I have noticed this a few times with mince, unless we eat it within a day or two of purchase. I have tried cooking it on its useby date or even the day before and it smells really rank so I have had to chuck it Angry

haggis01 · 01/03/2011 11:05

If I am not using the meat that day or the next day lunchtime) I freeze it in the portion size I need (we are all veggie except DH - so 1 person size)_ I had the same problem as you, particularly with beef mince and this seems to have solved it - although it is a bit of a fag and I forget to leave it out sometimes. 90% meat I buy is delivered from Ocado (waitrose brand) so it is not a problem exclusive to the cheaper supermarkets.

fedupofnamechanging · 01/03/2011 11:12

Can you get meat from a local butcher? It is more likely to be fresh. my brother once had a temp job in a supermarket and he said that when the sell by dates were coming up on fruit and veg, they would re label them with new ones.

fedupofnamechanging · 01/03/2011 11:14

I have also had rancid chicken from Asda, and am convinced they turned the fridges off overnight to save money. Won't buy meat in that particular store any more because I just don't trust it.

HappySeven · 01/03/2011 11:18

Makes me really glad we're still lucky enough to have local butchers and greengrocers round here.

MackerelOfFact · 01/03/2011 12:35

I have it on good authority that some chilled supermarket deliveries can stand around for hours before being put away. I've also noticed on more than one occassion things like chilled meat and fish which have abandoned by a customer on a shelf or next to the till, which have been returned to the fridge for sale several hours later. Grim.

JeremyVile · 01/03/2011 12:51

Yes, in the last year I've had stinky steaks, whole chicken (expensive one at that!) leg of lamb and mince.

All from Tesco. They've always refunded but I'm not going to big them up for that...it's the bloody least they can do.

spacecadet1 · 01/03/2011 13:00

Yes I'm sick of getting meat (chicken particularly) that smells v dodgy within its sell by date. I get my stuff delivered & I'm wondering how cool the stuff is kept before & during delivery. Might have to try to find a butcher & just do a big meat shop & freeze it. Also, th fruit & veg is often not up to scratch. V annoying Angry. Morrisons seems to be best for fruit, veg & meat but ours is too far away Sad