As Australians, we’re no strangers to a good old-fashioned mince dish—be it a hearty spaghetti bolognese, a comforting shepherd’s pie, or the classic meatballs. Mince is a staple in many households, prized for its versatility and ease of cooking. But what happens when the mince you pick up from your local supermarket doesn’t meet your expectations?
Recently, a concerning trend has been spotted at ALDI stores, leaving shoppers with a bad taste in their mouths—both figuratively and potentially literally. It seems that some packages of mince meat are not quite up to par, and it’s causing quite a stir among consumers.
In a post that has raised eyebrows and stomachs alike, an Australian mum shared her experience on the ALDI Mums Facebook group. She posted a photo of her recent purchase, asking the community, ‘Is this okay?’ The image showed mince meat that had turned an unappetising brown colour at the bottom of the package, despite not being cooked or exposed to heat.
The reactions were mixed, to say the least. Some shoppers were horrified, with comments ranging from concerns about the meat looking ‘par cooked’ to outright refusals to feed it to their pets. ‘Absolutely not. This looks almost par cooked—clearly been exposed to oxygen and warmth,’ one person wrote. Another chimed in, ‘Nope! Why does it look cooked?’
On the flip side, there were those who defended the discoloured mince, suggesting that if there was no off smell and the use-by date hadn’t passed, the meat was likely safe to consume. ‘If there is no smell and in date it is absolutely fine,’ a commenter argued, while another added, ‘If it doesn’t smell, it’s good.’
This isn’t the first time ALDI mince has come under scrutiny. Another shopper had a similar experience last year, sparking debate over the freshness and quality of the meat. The advice from fellow shoppers was just as polarised then, but the consensus seemed to be: when in doubt, it’s better to err on the side of caution and throw it out.
Have you ever encountered discoloured mince or other unexpected changes in supermarket products? How do you determine whether food is still safe to eat? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!
Also read: Does ALDI always win on price? A shopper puts it to the test
Aldi always try to provide everyday Australians with a better alternative to the bigger food retailers. They reduce their prices when the market allows, where the others never do that. I don’t work for Aldi, but I can assure you that I am a loyal customer who has Never had a problem with any of their fresh meat products. Shop there and you will know what I am talking about. Thank you 👍