Mum's shocking photo of ALDI mince will make you think twice before buying

As we age, we often become more cautious about our food, not just for health reasons but because we value quality and freshness in our meals.

A recent incident involving a mum and her recent purchase from ALDI caught the attention of many, especially those who are conscious about the food brought into our homes.


A mum was taken aback after a 500g pack of Five-Star Jindurra Station Beef Mince from ALDI, only to find the meat in an unappetising brown colour.

The use-by date on the package read 11.05.24, but the meat's appearance told a different story.

'Would you say this meat is off? It doesn't look a good colour and is still in expiry,' she wrote on a post with a photo showing the discoloured mince.


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While beef mince may generally come in a red colour, several factors may cause discolouration. Image Credit: Pexels/Angele J


The visual evidence was enough to make some people feel queasy, with one commenter admitting, 'I'm literally gagging looking at that.'

The post quickly went viral as fellow shoppers weighed in with their opinions and personal anecdotes.

'I can smell that through my phone,' one comment read.


This incident reignited a debate over the quality of supermarket meats versus those from local butchers.

'I stopped buying meat at ALDI this year. The amount of rotten meat we would buy within the expiry date was beyond a joke,' one comment wrote.

'It's such poor-grade meat, too, particularly the mince. We go to butchers for our meat now. The quality is unmatched and less expensive.'

On the other hand, some tried to dispel a common misconception about meat colouring in stores.

'Meat is red because of the dyes they put in it. If you buy organic meat, it's never like grocery store meat,' another wrote.

They also suggested that it should be safe to eat if the meat doesn't smell off and is still red on the inside.

'If in doubt, throw it out!' a third exclaimed.


Consumers must be vigilant about the freshness of the food you consume.

Discoloured meat can be a sign of spoilage but can also result from natural processes. The key is to trust your senses.

If the meat smells off or if you're in any doubt about its quality, it's better to dispose of it than risk getting sick over food.

This is a reminder to check meat quality before purchasing and not rely on best-before dates.

It may also be worth considering the benefits of building a relationship with your local butcher, where you can often find higher-quality meat and receive expert advice on selection and storage.
Key Takeaways

  • A mum expressed her shock upon finding discoloured beef mince that was within its expiry date.
  • The product in question was '500g Five Star Jindurra Station Beef Mince' from ALDI, which sparked a discussion on social media.
  • The discolouration and quality of the mince led to various comments—some users suggested throwing it out, and others explained that meat can turn brown due to natural factors.
  • The incident prompted discussions about supermarket meat quality versus butcher meat, with some commenters expressing a preference for the latter.
Have you ever encountered a similar situation with meat or other perishables? Share your experiences and produce-shopping tips in the comments below.
 
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I Have been buying meat and minnce for quite some tim to date as woolies & Coles are a blatant rip off. i have never had any issues with ALDI meat.---I tmakes me wonder if that post was written by a butchers partner ??
 
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Reactions: Nanna Josephine
Chicken is one of the worst products to detect food safety concerns visually. I had a 5kg carton of chicken thigh delivered to aged care facility. On opening the next day, it looked fine, but the smell nearly knocked me over.
I bought some chicken from Aldi a while ago, when I opened it the smell was terrible. I took it back and was refunded. I haven’t bought chicken there since.
 
Must be something wrong with my pad because that meat looks perfectly fine to me…..and I’m really fussy about how my meat looks, sometimes meat can look more red than it should though so I wouldn’t buy
 
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Reactions: Nanna Josephine
I have but a vague memory from possibly 40*yrs ago, when I found out that minced meats are coloured to get the desired fresh reddish/natural colour and I don’t think I’ve had cause to think about it since.
However, there’s a nagging thought that at the time something WAS done to either ban the practice or reduce the amount of colouring.
I wonder if there are any of your readers who might have more insight.
Fresh minced meat can go through a number of colour changes during its shelf life. This occurs naturally, and a brown colour just under the surface does not mean that the meat is old, stale or unsafe to eat.

Mince meat colour | NSW Food Authority

www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/consumer/food-at-home/shopping/mince-meat-colour
www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/consumer/food-at-home/shopping/mince-mea
 
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Reactions: Vikster
While it is true that nitrites can be added to meat to preserve redness, a light greying of the meat normally occurs on standing this does not affect quality or flavour. It is a surety though that "Organic" butchers who do not use chemicals to produce highly red coloured meats will suffer from the prejudice of ignorant customers who expect meat to be glowing red all of the time. The odour of meat is even less reliable. Wash it for 20 seconds in running water and then check the odour. Don't forget that an old British standard for meat, especially game, was to hang it at room temperature for 7 days before washing and cooking. This produced Beef and Venison which was sold for 3 times the normal cost.
 
Yes I bought mince from Aldi that went off quickly. I will take the advice and buy mince from a butcher in future.
Depends on the use by date and how you store it.
People love to ALDI bash. I've been shopping there for years and never had a problem
As far as the butchers shop goes, I decided once to support the local butcher, he charged like a wounded bull and all the meat was as tough as.
Back to Aldi
 
I have never found anything wrong with the meat I have bought at Aldi. As i have said numerous times I get a fortnight's meat for less than I was paying for meat delivered from a farm near me. What with the cost per kilo going through the roof I get an assortment of stuff from Aldi that is always good in Queensland. Mind you I have been lucky in my shopping experience at Aldi. I always put my meat straight in the freezer for during the fortnight between pension's .
 
I have tried meat from Aldi twice. The Lamb leg and now the lamb chops. Both times the meat was very chewy and not tender at all. I think they sell Hoggart for Lamb to me as it is tough. So not buying anything meat related again.
 
spotted some mince on special at coles yesterday, left it there as it looked grey and it had two special stickers on it, meant it had been in the special bin previously as well. Nope not for me
 
I have been shopping with Aldi for more than 20 years, buying minced chicken, pork, lamb, beef and even sometimes duck and turkey mince. And NEVER, in all that time, have I ever been disappointed with the quality of the meat they sell. I strongly suspect that this post is a case of "sour grapes" from someone who just wanted to besmirch Aldi's good name. If you have a GRIPE, take it to the store where you bought it instead of sharing it on social media!
 
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Reactions: SEAN
I not only bought mince at Aldi but the next day it was already off. Even the birds won't eat it so never again.
 
I have never had a problem with meat from Aldi. I think their products are great. If you have a beef about it, don't shop there. Go to one of the big super markets and pay a lot more
 
I have been shopping with Aldi for more than 20 years, buying minced chicken, pork, lamb, beef and even sometimes duck and turkey mince. And NEVER, in all that time, have I ever been disappointed with the quality of the meat they sell. I strongly suspect that this post is a case of "sour grapes" from someone who just wanted to besmirch Aldi's good name. If you have a GRIPE, take it to the store where you bought it instead of sharing it on social media!
You have hit the nail square on the head well said
 
WHERE do I start with aldi, well I could write a book.One time recently my partner
bought bag chicken necks for her dog,when she opened the bag , it stunk the whole house out. I buy from butcher,same costing superior taste.Roger
 

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