Anyone got an M&S turkey crown in their fridge?

[Bowlowner]

And if so, is the packaging puffed full of air?! DP bought an Oakham turkey crown in store, off the shelf, on Saturday (18th). Sell-by date of 27th December. We eat our Christmas dinner on Christmas eve, so all good datewise.

I noticed a day or so ago that the packaging was puffed up and just assumed it was deliberately like that with some kind of gas pumped in to keep it fresh for longer. DP has only just noticed it, can't recall if it was like that when first bought and thinks it might be a BAD THING.

Generally I would be suspicious of meat packaging like this, but given the long sell-by date I think it's probably done on purpose. The fridge is super efficient so no concerns on that front. I've tried phoning M&S but can't get past their mad computerised voice recognition phone system to speak to an actual human.

What do the wise Christmas Mumsnetters think?

Can you Twitter or Facebook M&S. Might get more joy in social media.

I'm not on Twitter or Facebook!

Providing you are storing it at or around 5degrees it will be OK when cooked. Meats do tend to give off gasses. Some meats are packed in oxygen rich atmosphere to keep the colour red.

Thanks, loopylindi. It seems a lot more gas than you'd usually expect, which is why I think it's been added in. I wish there was a note printed on the label to confirm. There is, however, a note which says "needs cooking"...

Are you sure it hasn’t blown and has bacteria inside? I’m not totally sure about these sort of things tho!

Just got the M&S stuffed turkey joint from Ocado delivery, half an hour ago. It does appear slightly puffed. Sorry for the rubbish photo, I tried to focus on the puffy bit.

You lot are braver than me (though I don’t eat meat or fish).

It’s one thing there being extra gas in at the start but if there was any chance more gas could have been produced during storage I would definitely not be eating it.

I’d take it back and ask them to swap it, I wouldn’t risk anything being off.

Thanks, Petunia. I am reassured by your similar puffing!

I am far from brave about this sort of thing usually! Turns out DP has to go to M&S early tomorrow anyway so will see if all the turkeys look like that - if they've got any left, that is!