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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to confront the butcher?

133 replies

pinkflamingo12 · 08/09/2017 14:05

I'm aware this is a bit of a strange question, but I wanted to get outside opinions before i jump in with two feet on this issue

Over the last couple of weeks myself and DH have had my in-laws round for sunday lunch. Both times i cooked a beef and onion pie for the main course. I thought it would be a showstopper but for some reason both pies have smelled like wee and i was really confused as to why?

The first time it happened i presumed DH has bought a dodgy onion from the supermarket but when it happened the second time i knew that couldnt be the case as we had shopped for ingredients at a completely different, more upmarket, supermarket (under the impression that the onions were causing the wee smell). However, both times i used beef i had got from the same butcher. I can't help but think that, if it isnt the onions which are causing my pies to smell like wee, it must be the beef.

So basically, i was wondering should i confront the butcher? I dont want to upset or offend him, i just need him to know that the beef he sold me was unsavoury. What if myself, DH or even my in-laws had become ill after eating it? What if someone else has become ill from eating it?

i'm not sure if i should go back to his shop and tell him that the beef he sold me smells like wee when cooked or if i should leave a review on facebook so that others are aware of his dodgy meat and avoid the shop so they dont get ill, as the wee smell might be cause by bacteria?

i would really appreciate any advice you lovely people have! Thank you in advance

OP posts:

skibop · 08/09/2017 14:12

www.homesteadingtoday.com/threads/fresh-butchered-meat-smells-of-urine-or-perhaps-the-evisc.349694/

Apparently it's possible that the butcher nicked the bladder. I wouldn't go there again if I were you. Have you considered calling environmental health and reporting them?

theymademejoin · 08/09/2017 14:13

Or maybe it's your oven or maybe it's the dish you were using or maybe it's the combination of ingredients you used or maybe it's any one of many other things.

You definitely shouldn't leave a bad review on the very, very flimsy evidence you have. If you really want to figure out what the problem is, cook a piece of beef from the shop on its own and see does it smell of wee.

NoProblemForMe · 08/09/2017 14:15

Beef that smells like wee?

Never heard of that before!

YWBU to post any kind of negative review when you have absolutely NO proof it's the beef causing this smell.

YWNBU to have a polite chat with the butcher about this. He presumably buys the meat in from a supplier so it's not exactly his fault if the beef smells pissy after being cooked (if indeed that is the case). I'm sure he'd like to know if there's something wrong with it though. I know some dodgy types sometimes 'freshen up' chicken with bleach/ammonia so I'd want to be sure nothing like that is going on.

beverly17 · 08/09/2017 14:17

Please warn facebook of his dodgy meat - No one need pissy beef in their life!

carou · 08/09/2017 14:17

It's a bit rude to suggest she's got a pissy oven or dishes @theymademejoin ...

Kazzyhoward · 08/09/2017 14:18

Just have a pleasant chat with the butcher to tell him. There's no need to go all guns blazing to "confront" him! You'll get a much better response if you're reasonable and stick to the facts. You don't know that the butcher has done anything wrong at all. Either there may be no problem with the meat, or it could be something that his supplier has done - if the latter, he'll appreciate you telling him so he can take it up with his supplier.

carou · 08/09/2017 14:18

I think it sounds disgusting and I wouldn't feed my family meat that smelled like that. Don't go there again! Asda have 3 for £10 on meat, I know it's not the same as butcher's best but if it doesn't smell like piss I'd prefer it!

HolidayTimeAgain · 08/09/2017 14:19

Your theory is very weak to go confronting the butcher!

Was the meat used in both pies purchased at the same time?
Did you notice and smell when preparing the meat for pie?

What else is in the pie? Could it be the pastry

minniemouse235 · 08/09/2017 14:19

Well, I've heard of wee smelling like meat before, but never meat smelling like wee!

If it's happened twice from the same butcher I would go in and have a word - don't post it all over facebook before you have evidence though.

arranisle · 08/09/2017 14:22

Yes @minniemouse235 urine that smells of meat is a sign of diabetic ketosis. Not sure about pissy pies though

Branleuse · 08/09/2017 14:23

can you try it again using meat from somewhere else?

StaplesCorner · 08/09/2017 14:25

So its an ammonia type smell? I'd definitely either go and have a chat, buy more beef, cook it on its own to check, or just don't go there again.

Ammonia can be used to mask decay, the meat might be older than is good for you. You are right to be concerned. I do love your thread title BTW!!

theymademejoin · 08/09/2017 14:29

@carou - possibly poor examples on my part. I'm not suggesting she has a pissy oven or dish. I'm saying that based on the evidence she has, it could be any part of the process causing it and I suggested oven/dish as they are part of her setup.

She doesn't know it's the meat unless she cooks the meat separately and checks it.

MrTrebus · 08/09/2017 14:32

Just go to the supermarket in future.

Original poster

pinkflamingo12 · 08/09/2017 14:34

this is the recipe i used:
www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/mincedbeefpie_89198

i'm not sure how any of the other ingredients could make my pie smell like wee

OP posts:

carou · 08/09/2017 14:35

@theymademejoin fair enough. I'm just sceptical that either of those things could smell of what is apparently ammonia... but I don't know, maybe her oven is dodgy. Is it a gas oven, @pinkflamingo12?

HolidayTimeAgain · 08/09/2017 14:39

Did you use stock or stout? Some beer can smell a bit odd when cooked.

minniemouse235 · 08/09/2017 14:40

Oh its MINCED beef? That really shouldn't smell of ammonia I think it might be old?

Just go elsewhere in future.

Original poster

pinkflamingo12 · 08/09/2017 14:40

@theymademejoin i'm pretty sure it can't be my oven, or my oven dish, they don't smell like wee. I often clean my oven with proper oven cleaner. Nothing i have ever cooked as smelled that these pies.

@carou , it isn't, it is a fan oven

OP posts:

NoSquirrels · 08/09/2017 14:41

Did it not smell when it was raw?

HolidayTimeAgain · 08/09/2017 14:42

At what point in the process did you notice the smell?
Did you use the same ready made pastry on each pie?

carou · 08/09/2017 14:42

Right, but...a fan gas oven, or a fan electric oven?

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 08/09/2017 14:42

There is nothing out of the ordinary in that recipe that should cause a smell like wee. I would think it's the mince and I'd have a word with the butcher. First, though, is there any possibility that there's something wrong with your fridge? If you bought the mince a day or two in advance of cooking it and the fridge wasn't cold enough, that could be an issue.

NoProblemForMe · 08/09/2017 14:43

The bladder and internal organs should be removed by the slaughterhouse, not the butcher.

If the bladder has been pierced during evisceration then the slaughterhouse is at fault and the butcher may need to rethink their supply chain.

theymademejoin · 08/09/2017 14:44

@carou - agreed. I would think the beef would smell of ammonia before being cooked if it was the beef alone, rather than some combination of things reacting together.

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