chicken - use by date 30th August - smells odd. would you?

[Hangingbellyofbabylon]

Just unwrapped the bird to roast for dinner. Use by date of today but it didn't smell too good. Not really off but not awfully fresh either. Have bunged it in the oven but really don't want to poison the family.

Ditto ... I did the same thing an hour ago ... ended up binning it and now stumped as to what to put on the table. DH claimed he could smell it 6' away. So no, I wouldn't

Of course not! If it smells off it is off.

Not if it smells

in the bin - don't even want to give it the cats. Will now rummage in the freezer to see what else we can have for dinner. That was one bad chicken.

Personally I would ring/e-mail the supermarket you got it from (or wherever it came from) and report that it is off and you have had to bin it. Get the name of the person you speak to and when you next go in you should get a refund. Take the wrapping or receipt or something as proof of purchase.

Sometimes meat can smell a bit whiffy right after you unwrap it (if it's been in plastic packaging esp). If so I wipe it with kitchen roll then give it a couple of minutes to 'breath' - if it's still at all whiffy I would bin right away but often it will be fine after that.

I am v cautious though and am always sniffing it to be 100% sure - if I could smell it 6' across the room I would chuck immediately as that's not right.

Definitely get a refund though - I did that with some chicken thighs from Waitrose and called to let them know then took in the label from the pack a few days later. It was all fine and they replaced and refunded - fab.