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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Bernard Matthews turkey

37 replies

DuckyMcDuck · 22/12/2020 12:56

Please be honest but gentle cos I honestly don't know if I've got this totally out of proportion:

DH was going to M&S to get the turkey. We're not usually M&S shoppers but I got a voucher from work. Instead, he went to Tesco and has come back with a Bernard Matthews one.

AIBU to be upset or is there actually no difference?

OP posts:
isseys4xmastinselcats · 22/12/2020 12:57

it probably wont taste that different other than a cheapper turkey but bernard mathews has an appalling record for welfare

Titsywoo · 22/12/2020 12:57

As in the little round thing from the freezer? Yeah there is a difference sorry. A big one.

Original poster
DuckyMcDuck · 22/12/2020 13:03

It's s turkey crown with bacon and stuffing etc but I just associate BM with cheap, rubbish food - and that's aside from the welfare aspect. We always buy free range so do t know what he wasn't thinking

OP posts:
Original poster
DuckyMcDuck · 22/12/2020 13:03

Next question, do you think there's any way Tesco will take it back?

OP posts:
BarbaraofSeville · 22/12/2020 13:19

If it's a proper turkey crown rather than a small round roast, it will be fine, there won't be a huge difference.

Even 'free range' in supermarket terms doesn't always mean that much. Slightly fewer turkeys crammed in the barn, and they also leave the door open, but half the turkeys won't even go outside.

How did he end up in Tesco if he was supposed to be going to M&S? I tried to go to M&S this morning, but the queue was massive, even before 8 am, so I didn't bother.

But look on the bright side, you still have M&S money to spend - you could get some nice nibbles to enjoy after Christmas.

Original poster
DuckyMcDuck · 22/12/2020 13:23

Thanks. It is actually free range so that makes me feel a little better.

He did go to Marks and got some other bits so have no idea what went wrong!

I'm sure it will be fine, I think I'm so wound up with other stuff going on, that this just seemed a bigger problem than it actually is.

OP posts:
LBOCS2 · 22/12/2020 13:28

Bernard Matthews supply a number of major supermarkets with turkeys, so there's no guarantee that you won't have got a BM one anyway.

From my dealings with BM (which were extensive but some time ago) free range turkeys genuinely are free range; they live on the farms and have extensive access to outside space. Whether they use it or not is debatable; turkeys are not very bright and often had to be chased out of the barns by the stockmen 🤷🏼‍♀️

NotOfThisWorld · 22/12/2020 13:28

The M&S one would definitely taste better. That said the Chrsitmas dinner is all about the side dishes so you'll still have a tasty meal. Why didn't DH just go to M&S though since you had the voucher?

Dontforgetyourbrolly · 22/12/2020 13:33

Tesco wont take it back unless something is wrong with it
Why dont you donate it to someone who needs it this xmas and go and use your vouchers to buy another one? Food bank/ homeless shelter might be grateful for it

Dontforgetyourbrolly · 22/12/2020 13:36

Sorry I didnt mean that to sound confrontational! I'm typing out bullet points on the freezing cold park trying to give ds some exercise and wanting to put my hands back in my pockets ! X

CardoMondo · 22/12/2020 14:29

Nobody likes turkey, they just eat it because it’s tradition. Stick with the cheap shitty thing that your DH has bought and enjoy the sides

Roussette · 22/12/2020 14:34

I LOVE turkey so no.

Oooohbehave · 22/12/2020 14:41

I'm sure it will be boootiful! (Sorry)

Justa47 · 22/12/2020 14:45

@DuckyMcDuck

Bet he thought the m and s one was too dear.

Justa47 · 22/12/2020 14:46

And got one going cheap!

Or gobble

nosswith · 22/12/2020 14:46

You have got this out of proportion.

Whilst I never buy any of their products, a mistake has been made on this occasion. Think of the fact that UNICEF have had to provide funds to help ensure some people get a reasonable Christmas meal, and how many people need food banks in this country.

Scrowy · 22/12/2020 15:16

@CardoMondo

Nobody likes turkey, they just eat it because it’s tradition. Stick with the cheap shitty thing that your DH has bought and enjoy the sides
I like turkey. But then I only eat turkey from a farm down the road where they breed about 20 only every year and sell to the village butchers.

Probably tastes very different to your average Bernard Matthews freezer fowl.

AlwaysCheddar · 22/12/2020 15:20

I’d divorce him!!

Nowaynothappening · 22/12/2020 15:23

I don’t eat meat but when I used to, I was never particularly fond of turkey. It’s just so dry and tasteless.

I know a lot of the meat comes from the same factory though so it’s literally the same meat, different label and price.

CatholicKidston · 22/12/2020 15:42

Is there a church or homeless shelter near you making Christmas dinners for people who are alone at Christmas? Maybe they would like it if you don't.

Belledan1 · 22/12/2020 15:52

I obviously don't know a lot about food and am obviously working class as I thought I thought Bernard Matthews food was ok. I always buy the cooked turkey chunks in the packs. I have even bought a small frozen Bernard Matthews crown as a emergency fall back a few weeks ago. Will cook that and have it cold as someone has got me a fresh one now.

Belledan1 · 22/12/2020 15:56

I am cooking a dinner for some elderly neighbours Christmas eve so they can heat it up xmas day. I just got them an Iceland one with bacon round it. People on here probably look down on that too but least this couple who normally go to their daughters who is tier 4 will have a dinner. I am taking no money its my present to them.

Scrowy · 22/12/2020 16:07

@Nowaynothappening

I don’t eat meat but when I used to, I was never particularly fond of turkey. It’s just so dry and tasteless.

I know a lot of the meat comes from the same factory though so it’s literally the same meat, different label and price.

That's not how it works. 100 different farmers migh send their turkeys to the same processing and packing plant. All will have been raised slightly differently. At the processing plant they will be graded by weight and quality. The likes of waitrose etc will have ordered the grade A turkeys, other supermarkets might take the B grade ones, other lower grade will go for jointing into crowns/legs and freezing. The lower grades will go for eg cat food, pies, sandwiches, sliced processed turkey breast, ready made gravy.

Turkey is only dry and tasteless if you buy poor quality and/or cook it incorrectly.

1Morewineplease · 22/12/2020 16:07

I'd keep it and cook it. You'll be hard pressed to find anything other that gigantic turkeys in she shops now... people are having to stay at home this year and all the smaller turkeys have gone.

TheHobbitMum · 22/12/2020 16:09

It makes no difference, where I work we've had our stores branded boxes delivered (from Bernard Matthews) and we've had M&S turkeys inside anyway. Its the same birds