Why does the chicken smell?

[Sardonicsnape]

I've bought a meal kit from waitrose against my better judgement and the chicken is, once again, utterly rancid. It is well within the use by date but smells like something has died in the packaging. I stopped my Hello Fresh orders for the same reason. Reading the reviews of this kit it's a regular problem BUT I DONT GET IT.

So, why does the chicken smell even though it is within date? I dont think it's off, it's just a particular smell these prepackaged meal kits seem to have.

Does it smelly very... sort of.... fleshy? And is it thigh? Because I usually use breast and any time I cook with thigh the smell makes me feel sick and think it’s off.

Sorry that wasn’t meant to sound like you’re as basic as me!

Waitrose are superb at returns. Please do take it back, they can write a merchandise complaint form. And refund or replace your product.
Take the packaging with you!

yeah, it's just a farty smell, like if you open a bag of salad: note how it's ok for a couple of days in the bag, but once opened, it'll wilt before your eyes.

opening ham is the worse!

I think your chicken meals are fine, but you are horrified by the initial whiff. Fact that you think it ALL smells, all the time, gives it away. You'd be unlucky if only the meals you buy, are off. "smells like something has died in the packaging", yes it does smell like that but it's just the packaging process

I'll update tomorrow night on the second packet. It's a scratch kit - I wont be buying another!

Also agree with @SheChoseDown re Waitrose returns, they’re great

I had the same with Sainsburys chicken. I contacted them on social media and they refunded me via nectar points. Not totally ideal, but meant I didn’t have to traipse back to the shop with my smelly chicken.

Chicken 2.0 is also disgusting. Me and the chicken are going on a journey to waitrose tomorrow after work....

Was it the One that comes with the veg & noodles?

I had a delivery of Asda chicken thighs, in date, smelt foul, I wondered if they hadn't been refrigerated properly. Straight in the bin but they did refunde me.

Is your fridge keeping temperature correctly? If you can set the temperature in degrees, what's I set at?

Yes another, got two and both disgusting.

Cant be bothered getting up to check what temp fridge is at but given everything else is fine I'm minded to blame the chicken not the fridge.

I do think it's the way its packaged, it's so common with these meal kits. They're expensive to be so disgusting.

Can I take it back without the receipt?

Raw chicken always smells vile to me. So I don’t eat it.

so we can be sure you find all uncooked chicken disgusting.
Will you promise not to buy anymore?

Yes, just let them know what date you bought it

so we can be sure you find all uncooked chicken disgusting.

No, I find all uncooked chicken in meal kits disgusting. Theres a very specific, disgusting smell. Fresh chicken doenst smell like this.