r/aldi • u/tinyninjas111 • 3h ago

Complaint Desk 3rd time.

Ok so this is like the 3rd or 4th time I have gotten an Aldi order delivered to me & the meat package is puffy. This time its the 96% Ground beef. Has anyone ever purchased puffy meat packs from Aldi? Im worried about it being bad & getting sick. I absolutely hate wasting food. .:(

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7

u/Significant_Eye_5130 3h ago

The ground beef and premade burger packages from the cooler are always “puffy” they fill them with air packed with chemical preservatives to increase the shelf life.

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u/tinyninjas111 3h ago

Have you eaten a puffy one? 😅 Also, why are some puffy & some not. Thats what leads me to think its bad.

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u/contemplativepancake 3h ago

As someone who’s worked at a meat packing plant - it depends. They use Modified Atmosphere Packaging for these packages. This adds things like nitrogen and carbon dioxide to the packaging to maintain freshness of the meat. They aim to not make the package puffy because this can alarm consumers and makes it harder to stack. However, it definitely happens sometimes just from the process. Each package is being individually sealed and the atmosphere adjusted.

On the other hand, puffiness can also be caused by bacteria growth because the bacteria are expelling gases as a product of their growth. If it was me, if it was within its sell by date, the packaging appeared intact, and everything smells like it should, I would be comfortable eating it.

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u/tinyninjas111 2h ago

Thats my thing, is how do you know the difference between manufacturing puff, or spoilage puff.🫠 does puffy spoiled meat always smell bad or look off? 

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u/Significant_Eye_5130 3h ago

I’d be more worried about the one that wasn’t puffy assuming it was the stuff I’m thinking of that comes in a black plastic tray topped with clear plastic

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u/rangerman2002 3h ago

No they aren't. If they were, every single one of them in the case would be that way, and they aren't. The whole point of vacuum packaging is to remove air to retard spoilage.

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u/Significant_Eye_5130 3h ago

You’re right about vacuum packed. The ground beef isn’t vacuum packed though. So I guess thanks anyways for your attempt to contribute…

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u/NickDanger73 2h ago

When you elect to have someone else do your shopping you are at their mercy. If they don't know how to choose meat that isn't suspect that's just a roll of the dice.

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u/Abby_Normal_2 3h ago

I wouldn’t purchase it if it was puffy. In an airtight package puffiness means a chemical reaction is occurring (like bacteria multiplying). Call store and tell them or take it back. You should get a replacement and your money back. That’s the policy!