A Woolworths customer has sparked a social media debate after sharing a photo of a frozen packet of beef mince.
Posting on a popular Facebook page, Woolies shopper Rob reached out for advice as to whether the meat buy was safe to eat.
Rob said he was concerned that the mince – which had been frozen for three months – had significantly changed colour, becoming a light brown shade.
“I froze this beef in November the day I purchased [it],” wrote Rob on the Markdown Addicts Australia page.
“It’s come out looking brown. Is this still OK to eat or chuck it? Was going to use for tacos.”
Rob’s post prompted a wave of responses, with more than 1,200 Facebook users offering their opinion on the matter.
Some said they wouldn’t risk eating the discoloured meat.
“My husband is a butcher and we would never eat this! It looks off,” said one.
Added another: “I personally wouldn’t eat it. But if it smells fine, it’s probably brown as it may have a puncture or hole in the packet and the air has gotten into it.”
Wrote a third: “No way I would be eating it … it is supposed to be red not brown.”
However most of the Facebook users responding to Rob’s post agreed the mince was perfectly good to eat.
“It’s fine,” said one. “When meat is packed they usually add in extra oxygen (I think) to make it look nice and red.
“That’s why meat in the deli sometimes doesn’t look as ‘tasty’ as pre-packaged meat. It’s still fine as long as you froze it before the use by date and the freezer had a consistent temperature.”
Wrote another: “It will be fine, trust me. Been freezing meat my whole adult life! Unless it has freezer burn and/ice on it (it doesn’t, because it’s sealed) it’s fine!
“Ive also worked in delis and butcher shops for 25 years … I hate waste!”
Added one more: “Food microbiologist here. Beef, if frozen, should be consumed within three months but is probably fine up to six.
“The colour is normal for frozen meat, as the blood freezes it turns brown, due to oxidation. Defrost fully before cooking and it will be fine. If unsure give to dog, it smells bad, bin it.”
Another added: “I’ve cooked meat from freezer same as that. If I don’t smell a funny smell, I then taste a tiny bit and has always been no problem to eat and we have never got sick from food.”
Food experts agree that it’s normal for foods to discolour when they’re frozen, confirming they’re safe to consume.
“Colour changes can occur in frozen foods but the foods remain safe to eat,” the US Department of Agriculture says on its website.
“The bright red colour of meat as purchased usually turns dark or pale brown depending on its variety. This may be due to lack of oxygen, freezer burn or abnormally long storage.”

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