Meat - does swollen packaging always mean off?

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

Dh did the big shop yesterday and a pack of burgers had bulging plastic when I got it out of the bag. My immediate thought was it was out of date - nope, still in date. But I always thought that's what this meant?

We've both lost our sense of smell (thanks covid!), so even sniffing it won't help.

Do I risk it?!

Not always as they are packed in different air (can’t remember what exactly). Do they look the right colour?

If they are still pink I'd eat them..... Or get a neighbour to have a sniff if you are worried

No. Often the packs are pumped full of inert gas. I notice this especially if it's just bagged meat - Waitrose mince is really puffy and hard for example.

Thanks. They look an OK colour but look a little wet

Wet isn't a good sign. Even the packages that have had gas added (usually the stuff in bags) and are stiff shouldn't bulge. It usually means that it has got too warm and the gas has expanded.

I would call customer services and ask.

No help to you at all, but I remember having a monster of a cold one summer and taking a curative walk along the beach in the fresh air. I was barefoot and trod in something black and sticky. My sense of smell was so shot I couldn't tell if it was dog shit or a lump of tar (this was years ago when tar on beaches was commonplace).
I think if my sense of smell had deserted me I would stick to foods that are unlikely to make me ill if they are past their best op!