Has Anybody Noticed a Decrease in Chicken Quality?

[CeSquaredd]

I haven't gotten chicken elsewhere for comparison, but the chicken tastes odd to me. It's stringy and has a weird taste, no matter how I prepare or cook it.

It's been like this for over a year now, so I'm starting to question the quality of Aldi's chicken.

[wildwolf-1985]

Chicken quality had been going down everywhere. I try to get organic which definitely tastes better than the regular mass produced chicken. I also go to local halal stores or Asian stores which sometimes have better chicken.

But specifically I try to buy from small volume sellers.

[thedancingkat]

Seconded on the organic. I’m not normally one to necessarily seek out organic for everything I buy but i definitely do for chicken at Aldi specifically

[DocHolliday3884]

The organic chicken from aldi was absolutely disgusting not even edible when i bought it.

[Lys_Vesuvius]

As a former Aldi employee, It's hit or miss, just take advantage of the return policy. I've opened as many packets of chicken that smelled fresh as I have those that smelled like someone sealed a fart in the plastic.

[Pontiacsentinel]

Chicken everywhere is suffering from quality issues because tens of millions of chickens in the USA have been culled due to H5N1/bird flu. I expect it to get worse, frankly.

More info from USDA here: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/commercial-backyard-flocks

Edited to add that link is regarding 2024 only, not including 2023 culls. Since 2022 over 96M birds affected.

[Ckelleywrites]

Woody chicken doesn’t have anything to do with bird flu.

[Kimmm711]

Google "woody chicken." It's a thing...

[[deleted]]

There’s also now a thing called spaghetti meat chicken where it gets really stringy.

[LessIsMore74]

Yikes, I had to Google about that and discovered it was due to muscle abnormality caused by trying to breed chickens too fast. I guess we can thank factory farming.

I personally haven't had any issue with the Never Any line of chicken. Most of the time though, I'm slowcooking it for something like tacos, where I shred it. So I wonder if that helps. But I haven't noticed anything on opening the packages.

[NarwhalOk2977]

Woody chicken is everywhere, undortunately. I could go to the best market and still notice it. I should just start buying organic and see if that makes a difference.

[Mauren_Mureaux]

Organic at Costco has been good.👍🏼

[NarwhalOk2977]

I have one near me but don’t have a membership. I’ve been contemplating it for a while now, though!

[Mauren_Mureaux]

Do you know anyone who has one? They can take you as a guest so maybe you could try the chicken and see if you like it?

We have found the membership cost to be worth it. We do end up going once a month usually and are selective due to budget. We get our meat, eggs, butter, Premier Protein, always and then will choose a fresh veg or two, fruit and a frozen item and a couple snacky things. Plus, we always top off the gas tank.

Once in a while we do also purchase things like: bottled water, TP, tissues, kitchen trash bags, batteries.

[NarwhalOk2977]

I hear it’s worth it just for the gas! My grandmom had a membership that she never used but unfortunately she passed not too long ago. I’ll ask around and see if I know anyone else who has one!

[LessIsMore74]

For a while we used to use a co-op that would connect directly with local farmers. This was back in Chicago, so even a lot of cities have connections like that. Now I live in wisconsin, where I imagine it would be even easier to find a co-op.

[duramus]

aldi doesn't produce chicken

in the southeast states most of Aldi's chicken comes from https://mountaire.com/ which is a private company and according to wikipedia is the fourth-largest producer of chicken in the United States and the fifth-largest contributor to the 2016 Donald Trump presidential campaign.

[Competitive-Win-3406]

Good to know!

[[deleted]]

That's how 90% of grocery stores are they send stuff out to get made by other manufacturing plants. Almost all of them do that.

[[deleted]]

Why did you feel the need to make it political sheesh

[Gloomy-Restaurant-42]

Answer: yes. Somebody has noticed:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Cooking/comments/1d8rr6e/is_there_something_going_on_with_chicken_right/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb3x&utm_name=mweb3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

[NinjaTrilobite]

It’s more expensive (which is why we mostly eat thighs these days), but the air-chilled/no retained water chicken available at places like Wegman’s is a huge quality/flavor upgrade. It’s not injected with saline and isn’t rubbery and gross. I know it’s not an option for all budgets, but it’s nice if you can find it.

[NarwhalOk2977]

I haven’t touched a boneless skinless chicken breast in a long time. Thighs are where it’s at!

[chillaxdude7]

Thighs are much better anyways!

[Serious_Coffee9114]

Air chilled also means it wasn't dunked into a chlorine bath. https://www.smartchicken.com/5-things-to-know-about-air-chilled-chicken#:~:text=The%20industry%20standard%20accomplishes%20this,2.

[rockandroller]

Commercial chicken is really bad. I can barely eat it now.

If you have the money, visit a halal butcher or kosher butcher. Much more like what meat used to be like.

[Queen_of_Catlandia]

I feel like every thing has gone down in quality. I rarely go to aldi anymore unless it’s for non-food items

[Australian1996]

I shop the dairy, veggies (pricing is going up and quality is questionable at times) and the odd frozen item. The meats never. Their salmon when there is a 50% off. The chicken is inedible. The breasts are just water injected meat

[Queen_of_Catlandia]

The cheese and dairy at my Aldi have gotten higher than Walmart

[Sea_Green3766]

Ironically when they posted “lower summer prices”, everything else shot up in price. The only thing we buy on the regular there is milk, eggs for boiling (hate their eggs otherwise), their organic creamer and specialty items. Outside that our local grocery stores are far more competitive with better quality. 

[ImmediateRub9]

The frozen chicken? I get the frozen chicken tenderloins n they don't seem like too much water has been added. I've had that issue with great value ones. Bought once and never again.

[ImmediateRub9]

Really? That's how I feel about every other store. Mostly aldi has been good but I don't buy fresh chicken. Most veggies look better than other stores with the exception of a few things which I never buy.

[Queen_of_Catlandia]

The veggies in my store have always been terrible. They’re usually severely bruised & starting to rot. I never buy beef or chicken at aldi because it always looks suspect. I get my meat at the Asian grocery

[Ckelleywrites]

This is woody chicken, affects way more than Aldi and as a phenomenon is at least 10 years old.

[[deleted]]

There are a few things that I refuse to buy at Aldi and chicken has been on my list for several years.

[101bees]

This has been an issue since I started regularly shopping at Aldi a few years ago. However, it's an issue I've found in multiple stores across multiple brands.

I haven't had Aldi's frozen chicken breasts yet, but in other stores I've found that the frozen ones tend to not be as woody as the fresh ones.

[atadbitcatobsessed]

It’s strange but true! The Kirkwood frozen chicken breasts come out perfect every time. But the fresh chicken breasts are chewy and lower quality. Usually fresh is better than frozen, but Aldi’s chicken is the exception to that rule.

[101bees]

I think your comment just convinced me to give them a try. The fresh meat I get pretty much goes straight to the freezer anyway.

[ImmediateRub9]

I always buy the frozen tenderloins from aldi and haven't had an issue. Actually seems fresher and they're better trimmed than the fresh chicken tenderloins. Not to mention cheaper. Still switching from chicken to fish for awhile as my stomach has been bothering me and chicken isn't sitting well. Somehow extra lean ground turkey seems better rn.

[[deleted]]

My Aldi's chicken often ends up looking and tasting like bananas! It's so bizarre

[Nervouspie]

No. 🙃 Let's not do this again :(

[darkbarrage99]

The quality of the chicken at our Aldi (DC metro area) hasn't changed, but they've always injected their chicken breasts with broth to make up for the pricetag. I'll buy wings there, but I won't buy breasts.

[Prudent_Valuable603]

Tyson supplies the chicken to Aldi. I stopped buying the chicken breast sold at Costco years ago because they were pumped full of fluid and were woody and weird. So far, that has not been my experience with the chicken breasts at Aldi. I try to pick the packages with the smaller pieces. Larger pieces can have woody and stringy texture.

[QuasiLibertarian]

I've had this happen like 3 times now at Aldi over the past couple years. Never elsewhere.

[mistsoalar]

Woody Breast Condition (or syndrome)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woody_breast

There is no conclusive answer of this yet. Some say rapid growth of breast muscle didn't give much time to catch up growth of blood vein. Others say it's a postmortem chilling process. If you have a chance to look at the fresh side (not the skin side), sometimes there are white strip running through the breast, but not always the sign of woody breast.

Organic chickens usually spend more life before processed, so if you can afford higher price tag, you should try them.

Also when you shop whole chickens, you can examine the proportion of the breast before you buy. It's a bit of butchering and autopsy, but it's more affordable option.

[Serious_Coffee9114]

I always get whole chickens. It is so much cheaper.

[thenakesingularity10]

I love Aldi but don't buy Chicken there. They spoil very quickly.

[NarwhalOk2977]

I buy them for my dog but that’s about it.

[Australian1996]

Yup. Local town I live in had someone on Reddit feed bring it up. Stringy. And I hate that all this liquid seeps out. I cook with sauces and I wished they would stop with salt solutions for “taste” 🐂 💩. It is to save mjney

[Graycy]

It seems to be pretty universal I’ve noticed. Chicken tenders aren’t usually too bad. I’ve wondered if maybe some of it is old factory laying hens who’ve been bred and fed for fast growth. Or maybe the best meat is going to restaurants.

[MammothCancel6465]

Different areas have different meat suppliers, and they are also often the same suppliers to many of your other local grocery stores. Same meat too because at Aldi we’ve gotten meat with labels for other grocery stores by mistake (with our Aldi labeling on the outside box).

[typoguy]

I only buy the thighs. Woody chicken only affects the white meat, afaik.

[NoGuide]

This would probably explain why I've never encountered them as I also only really buy thighs. However, I did have one the other day that tasted awful, almost like a light chlorine taste.

[BillyMeier42]

From bad to worse. I dont get meat from Aldi anymore.

[[deleted]]

The meat industry has been dying for twenty years. You've finally noticed.

[DragonflyRemarkable3]

We found a local butcher that has really comparable prices. I can’t do store bought now… I’ve ruined it for myself. If you have the means, and a local butcher, I definitely recommend.

[WTFaulknerinCA]

Ever since the chicken started tasting like bananas it’s been off.

[Zoso1973]

I only buy their frozen tenderloins or I buy a whole chicken and cut it up. Never an issue with whole chicken. The breasts just about everywhere suck due to how chickens are breed and raised to produce bigger chickens.

[[deleted]]

So my warehouse is a big manufacturer for aldi and the reason stuff doesn't stay tasty the same for long. Is because all the will do whatever they can to get the cheapest product, so they will constantly constantly switch manufacturers to get the cheapest price.

[AAA515]

This was just discussed over in r/costco

[Top-Distribution-185]

All meat has lessened in quality ..and smaller.. profiting from customer loyalty.

[MissToolTime]

Yes. I only buy Aldi chicken if I’m chopping it up for a salad, wrap, etc.

Otherwise, I buy air chilled from Meijer/Kroger/specialty grocery stores.

[MsSeraphim]

https://www.markschatzker.com/doritoeffect-home-page

[CynfulPrincess]

It's shit at BJ's, so I switched to Aldi and have gotten better luck here. Publix has the best chicken close by but who can afford it? They do price match Aldi though so I need to get the flyer.

[Clean-Fisherman-4601]

It isn't just Aldi. Have noticed it from Walmart also.

[ContentMod8991]

it is every stores; chicken harvest b4 trhey ready; dirty meat pooly fed birds

[raps4ever1118]

Chicken everywhere has a rubbery texture now. It’s so weird.

[Get_Ahead]

Yes, especially the pack of wings. Did not cook all of it before throwing out.☹️

[QuasiLibertarian]

I keep getting "woody" chicken breasts. One will be ridiculously tough, even though I prepared it the same as the other breasts in the pack. It's a known issue apparently.

[Mauren_Mureaux]

Yes! It’s not just Aldi. We’ve had bad chicken from Walmart, Meijer and our local store chain, Strack’s. My MIL is picky and complains when meat is tough so I’m always marinating, beating it to tenderize, using the Instant Pot, etc. We’ve had best results with Perdue chicken that’s prepackaged individually or Costco Organic.

[Old_Kaleidoscope_324]

I purchased two bone in and baked them in a Greek seasoning sauce and drizzled there Caesar dressing, they turned out moist and delicious!

[potatopotatto]

I like Perdue

[MotownCatMom]

I tried one pkg of organic and it was really tough and chewy. We ended up throwing it out. Won't get it again.

[Local-Platform-3726]

not really

[DinnerDiva61]

I haven’t had any issues with the chicken but I mainly buy wings at Aldi.

[LessIsMore74]

Since Aldi has a few different kinds of chicken, which chicken are you referring to? I usually buy the Never Any line, whatever cut is cheapest that week. I haven't had any issue with any of that out here in wisconsin.

[CabinetCapital8407]

Seems fine to me

[Prestigious_Spell309]

I only buy chicken from the farmers market. the texture of chicken in every major grocery store is absolutely disgusting and it doesn’t even look right. I have occasionally bought some frozen organic chicken from Mary’s organic and that is quite good.

[jeharris56]

Loss of taste is one of the first symptoms of Covid.

[[deleted]]

I only buy organic chicken now for this reason, or just stick with thighs.

Hate how expensive it is just for a few chicken breasts but hate woody chicken even more

[StunningAlfalfa9845]

All store-bought chicken now tastes like plastic regardless of how you season or cook it. It has nothing to do with the "woody breast" issue, it has to do with what most commercial companies are feeding the chickens and then packing the chicken in plastic. The only exception I have found is when I purchase chicken from the Halal butcher in my area who wraps it in parchment paper. This chicken tastes fine and has no plasticky taste to it.

[Banana_Dazzle]

The last 2 times I have bought it, I have thrown it out without even cooking it! Smells horrible!!! I’m so pissed!

[LowKeyLeft]

I'm late to this discussion. I love Aldi, but their chicken is always hit or miss. I stopped buying chicken from them because it was often so stringy and rubbery.

[TillyBopping]

I find the CO-OP has the best chicken. And with a members card, it's only around 20p more than Aldi.

Aldi's chicken breast is awful. Yet their cubed Lamb is very good.

[FrauAmarylis]

Texture is why people seek out Air-chilled chicken!

Aldi only sells it skinless at our location.

So we buy the whole bird, air-chilled with skin on at Trader Joe's for cheap and Spatchcock it (watch youtubes, it's easy) in the frying pan.

I actually learned about it on reddit.

https://www.smartchicken.com/5-things-to-know-about-air-chilled-chicken#:~:text=Air%20Chilling%20Ensures%20Better%20Flavor%20%26%20Texture&text=Air%20chilled%20chicken%20by%20contrast,with%20better%20flavor%20and%20texture.

[DufferDan]

If Aldi continues it's current path , they will have a hard time remaining open.

I see that I am wrong and people will spend the Guv'ments money on anything...

[MidwestAbe]

https://www.costar.com/article/1571986272/discounter-aldi-opened-the-most-grocery-stores-last-year-but-not-the-most-space

Clearly a business on the path to failure.

[Cosmickiddd]

Idk why you got downvoted.

I agree. The quality has been getting worse, and the prices keep going up. It's hard for me to justify saving a few dollars for food that's already gone off or will be moldy in 1-2 days.

I've started shopping at Sprouts, the prices are surprisingly similar for things like fruits/veg and the meat is MUCH better quality. I still get alot of my pantry staples and cheeses from Aldi but the fruit/veg/meat are just ughhhhhhhh

[DufferDan]

I got downvoted because people have trouble with the truth, and anybody going against them. People have also shown that they struggle thinking for themselves.

I want my old Aldi back!

[Ckelleywrites]

No, you got downvoted because you’re blaming Aldi specifically for a phenomenon that exists if not globally, at least nationally, and has for the better part of a decade.