Several UK shoppers have accused some of the country’s biggest supermarket chains of spoiling Christmas celebrations after discovering that their festive turkeys were discoloured, foul-smelling or already out of date.
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Customers took to social media to share images of yellowed birds and described unpleasant odours upon opening their deliveries. The complaints were directed at major retailers including Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Lidl, with some shoppers saying they were left without a centrepiece for Christmas Day. One Tesco customer said she was shocked to find mould on her turkey, claiming the smell suggested it had already gone off. She said the discovery left her scrambling for alternatives, adding that the odour lingered throughout her home. Others echoed her frustration, saying they had no replacement meat available at such a late stage.
Sainsbury’s shoppers also reported similar problems. One customer, who paid nearly £32 for a turkey, said it had an overpowering smell despite being within its stated use-by date, leaving no option but to throw it away. Another said his family was forced to abandon plans for a traditional Christmas dinner after opening the packaging and being met with what he described as an overwhelming stench.
In Norwich, a shopper claimed he bought a turkey from a Sainsbury’s superstore that produced a strong odour on Christmas morning, while another customer criticised Lidl after finding beef that appeared spoiled on the day it was due to be cooked.
Some complaints focused on date labelling. One Tesco customer said turkeys bought in December were already marked with sell-by dates months in the future, which she described as a serious food hygiene concern. Another shopper reported collecting a gammon joint just days before Christmas, only to discover it was due to expire the following day and smelled unpleasant.
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Tesco responded to individual complaints online, asking affected customers to provide further details. Sainsbury’s, meanwhile, issued a statement apologising to customers who received turkeys that fell short of expectations. A spokesperson for Sainsbury’s said the company was contacting those affected to offer an apology and confirm that investigations were under way to understand how the issue occurred.
