Tesco apologises after customers complain of 'rancid, rotten' turkeys

Retailer promises to investigate as people on social media complain about ruined Christmas dinners after turkeys were ‘off’



Tesco, the UK’s largest retailer, has apologised after being hit with a series of complaints about the condition of its Christmas turkeys.

The supermarket group has pledged to investigate after customers claimed on social media that they had bought “rancid, rotten” turkeys and had had to order takeaways after discovering that the meat had gone off.

People complained on Facebook and Twitter on Christmas Day about the poultry, which costs up to £59 in the store’s Finest range.

Carl Barber, from Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, wrote: “This was bought only a few days ago and it’s out of date. 23 quid wasted now have no Xmas turkey for Xmas day. Any customer services available today??”

Alison Kendall, also from Essex, said her Christmas dinner had been ruined.

She wrote: “Thank you Tesco for the Finest Turkey Crown with a sell-by date of 26/12 that had gone off by the 25th … ruining our Christmas Dinner.

“Imagine my sheer panic at 6am on Xmas Day, opening the turkey wrap to be hit by that ‘gone off’ smell with 10 people coming to Xmas Dinner.”

Kirsten Shore, from Stafford, Staffordshire, wrote: “Snap! We had the same problem!

“Our first time hosting and a rotten turkey from @Tesco ruined our day! I’m devastated!

“Thanks @Tesco for selling me a gone off turkey and wrecking my first Christmas day cooked at my home!

“£250 wasted. An awful meal and eight sick people!”

She later added on Facebook: “I was very excited and worked super hard to make and prepare Christmas dinner for my family for the first time ever but thanks to the Tesco I served them a rotten, rancid turkey that was inedible.

“Not only that – the gravy was made from the turkey so that resulted in everyone’s meal ending up in the bin. Thanks Tesco!”

Tesco apologised on social media to people affected and offered them a refund.

...offered them a refund.

I doubt that'll quell their problems. To be fair though, whenever I've complained to Tesco about anything they've been more than generous.

Now, I wonder if Tesco's supplier was Two Sisters?

I always thought it was Crown Farm Norfolk who supplied their Turkeys.

It would appear that you are right Melisandre.

Thank you Rebbonk . I know the factory that Supplied Farm Foods some years ago use to bleach their gone off chickens hiding them from the inspectors in Norfolk my ex boyfriend use to work there as one area was inspected they would move them into the area that had already been inspected but then my mum once bought a chicken wriggled with maggots from Sainsburys in the town who thanked her for keeping quite and just returning it.

I would keep my own if I was able like my mum use to in the back yard its legal even in a council house and would grow my own fruit and veg if I could like I use to.

My guess is an independent investigation by someone like Channel 4 will reveal a lot more shortcomings in Tesco's supply chain just as it did with their frozen fish.

Nearly all our food Dutchman especially packed food comes from the same outlets did you not watch Google Box with the poultry my son has worked in Worcester in the outlets also my son in law in Bradford they just put the same food in different packages shops own named wrappers . Iceland chicken came from China not sure if they have changed even Morrison s are now following the Co-op and buying only British so even Morrisons were buying from other countries. If its British it should be fresher .

If any one is to blame is the government closing down our local slaughter houses .