Butcher explains why turkeys go bad as Brits melt down over Christmas disasters

25 December 2023 , 20:17

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Christmas has been ruined for some families who bought turkeys that turned out to be rotten (Image: Twitter)

A butcher has explained why Christmas is ruined for some families every year when they get ready to cook their festive bird – but find it's rotted through.

Earlier today, customers took to Twitter to share pictures of their "rotting" turkeys, which looked vile and smelled "disgusting". A family-run butcher has revealed that turkeys found in supermarkets are particularly at risk of turning foul because they can be slaughtered as long as a month prior to Christmas Day.

After being killed, the supermarket will package the turkey as carbon dioxide is pumped into the bag to replace the oxygen and the bacteria that can take hold. The bird is then cooled to just above freezing, according to Tomlinsons Farm Shop in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. When the bags containing individual turkeys are damaged, oygen can infiltrate the micro environment, causing the turkey to turn "rapidly" and go "rancid".

It's unclear whether this is definitely the reason behind some customers' unpleasant turkeys this year. Richard Piers Rayner wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Christmas Eve: "This is a bit of a blow. Bought a ‘fresh’ turkey (£53.00!) from the local Tesco superstore a couple of days ago.

"Just unwrapped it to prepare everything for tomorrow and it absolutely stinks. The meat is rotten. So… Christmas dinner? It’ll not be quite as we might have hoped."

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Meanwhile, Becky Lucas wrote: "Sainsbury's You have RUINED our Christmas. Just opened our turkey, which was bought from you on Thursday, kept refrigerated and is still in date… and it is RANCID!"

Birds allegedly bought from Asda, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Aldi are among those spoiled (Twitter)

Sainsbury's responded on X: "Hi Becky. I'm really sorry about the turkey. Using the DM link, could you please provide a photo of the barcode on the product, along with your Nectar card number, address and email? Also where and when you bought this? I'll look into it."

The Mirror has approached a number of supermarkets - thus far Aldi, Tesco, Sainsbury's and Asda - for comment about the turkey complaints. Speaking to the Mirror, Aldi said all supermarkets encounter this challenge and has reminded customers to always follow the product instructions of all goods to ensure they remain appetising.

These instructions include the optimum storage of all supermarket products, including turkeys.

Ryan Fahey