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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Am I wrong about frozen turkey from butcher?

51 replies

Irishgurl · 28/12/2019 19:26

We collected our turkey early Christmas Eve from our local butcher. It cost £93 for a bird of slightly over 141b. I was given a time to collect it from dates of 23rd or 24th. The weight and dates were tied to the outside of the leg (farm date 22nd December,to be eaten by 28th December). When I unpacked it, there was another ticket inside saying the farm date was 21st November, to be eaten by 28th November. We presume that this means that the turkey was frozen and defrosted prior to our buying it? AIBU thinking that the butcher presented it as a fresh turkey not a frozen one? I could have bought a lovely frozen turkey for far less if that is what I had wanted. And I wouldn't have had to queue up on Christmas Eve. I was unsure of freezing any of the meat as I didn't know for sure how long it had been defrosted. Am I being stupid and are all turkey's from the butcher actually defrosted ones?

OP posts:
Original poster
Irishgurl · 28/12/2019 21:33

MondeoFan

Yes, 'sneaky' is a good word for how I feel they acted.

OP posts:
scousadelic · 28/12/2019 21:40

I'm just shocked at that price Shock
I got a 6kg turkey, half a horseshoe of gammon and 36 pigs in blankets for less than that from my butcher!

Original poster
Irishgurl · 28/12/2019 22:53

scousadelic

No, I wasn't delighted by the price either. I tried to justify it to my husband as it is the first time ever (after 22 years together) that his parents have come for the actual Christmas day lunch. I wanted it to be really lovely. I don't think it was any better than a Taste the Difference one from Sainsbury's. And I wouldn't have had to stand in the queue on Christmas Eve for one o those!

OP posts:
SarahAndQuack · 28/12/2019 22:54

I assumed it was fresh not frozen as they only sell fresh meat. I have bought meat there for years and frozen food has never mentioned.

So they have signs up saying they only sell fresh meat?

If that is the case, then yes, you could object, as this is dishonest.

Of course, if they simply didn't mention it either way, then it might be that you are being a bit precious. Much meat can be flash-frozen in a commercial environment, quite safely, without any danger to you if you freeze it again.

StrongerThanIThought76 · 29/12/2019 08:10

misses point of thread

93 quid on a turkey? How many people did that feed???

Bibijayne · 29/12/2019 08:30

Trading standards.

Spitsandspots · 05/01/2020 19:47

@Irishgurl have you spoken to the butcher yet? Curious to know if it was frozen or not

FruityWidow · 05/01/2020 19:51

You bought a 10 stone turkey? Hmm

Tombliwho · 05/01/2020 19:56

Shock entirely missing the point but it must have been enormous?!

Original poster
Irishgurl · 05/01/2020 20:47

It's meant to be 14 1b (14 pound). I think a 10 stone turkey would be quite amazing though and definitely a bargain at that price (frozen or not).

Hi Spitsandspots - Yes, the update is that I spoke to the butcher and it was a frozen turkey. He was at pains to say that it had been commercially frozen and defrosted and could be treated in the same way as a fresh turkey. I do think it was slightly odd to have not made this more clear. What is the point of implying a December farm date if it was frozen in November? The first ticket inside the packaging should have been removed which implies concealment to me. He was very embarrassed.

At the end of the day, the turkey was nice , the butcher is usually good and I think, going on press reports and what others have said, this practice is very common.I will carry on using the butcher but we had a second turkey from Sainsbury's for a new year family dinner and it was just as good and cost far less. So next year I might not bother queuing up on Christmas Eve for a pre-frozen butcher's turkey.

Many thanks for all the constructive comments.

OP posts:
Original poster
Irishgurl · 05/01/2020 20:51

Still laughing at writing that I bought a ten stone turkey. Bigger than me! Well it was bigger than me before Christmas, not so sure now!

OP posts:
BrickTop999 · 05/01/2020 20:52

Wow ! Id have been asking for a refund myself
Selling “fresh” turkey is not selling a pre frozen one whatever waffle he came out with and you believed

Original poster
Irishgurl · 05/01/2020 20:55

As an OP pointed out- there was no sign up saying it was fresh. I just assumed it was as they don't normally sell frozen meat. I will always ask in future but I think the practice is very common. So many of my friends have read about it in the press and will also be asking next year

OP posts:
TerrifiedandWorried · 05/01/2020 20:55

Pounds us lb not 1b! That might help. Was wondering how huge your oven was Grin

Original poster
Irishgurl · 05/01/2020 20:57

Yes, it was a typo and I hadn't noticed until it was pointed out. Need some glasses!

OP posts:
Rocketpants50 · 05/01/2020 21:09

Quick Google search states a commercially frozen turkey is frozen much quicker than if we were to stick it in freezer at home. Surely frozen is frozen though and has to be labelled as 'previously frozen' and shouldn't be refrozen raw.

Original poster
Irishgurl · 05/01/2020 21:19

I'm not sure of the legal position. It certainly wasn't labelled as previously frozen. Is it law that it has to be labelled as such?

OP posts:
Surfskatefamily · 05/01/2020 21:29

I'm sorry but I cant get past the 141lb turkey....that's like full grown adult human. How big was the turkey?

APatchyTomCat · 05/01/2020 21:35

14 pounds, as has been explained several times in the thread.

EarringsandLipstick · 05/01/2020 21:36

Surf RTFT. She never wrote 141lb. She wrote 141b, the 1 was meant to be a l, and OP clarified it in subsequent posts. 🙄

IwishIcan · 05/01/2020 21:37

I think our Tesco has a notice on the fish counter, stating all fish has previously been frozen. Not the point here, but quite suprisingly honest for Tesco.

Original poster
Irishgurl · 05/01/2020 21:38

My actual typo was 141b not141 lb. I assume it was a joke that someone commented on a 10 stone turkey! Surely no one actually thought it was a human sized turkey?

OP posts:
Original poster
Irishgurl · 05/01/2020 21:41

Thank you EarringsandLipstick.

OP posts:
TheHumansAreDefinitelyDead · 05/01/2020 21:41

I would feel cheated too!

Was it at least a very good turkey?

Freezing makes the meat less juicy and fresh tasting.... I know so much gets frozen these days, but it explains why some turkey meat is do dry

oohnicevase · 05/01/2020 21:44

That's bonkers , I always buy a free range fresh turkey crown and it's about £20.. always lovely ( I don't eat meat but I'm told it is ) maybe it's the way I cook it but there is no need to pay £100 for a frozen turkey . I think they deceived you !

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