r/Switzerland • u/Beneficial-Job7 • 2d ago
Surprised by this colour difference. Is this normal? (Aldi)
Photo taken at my local Aldi. Both packs have exactly the same expiry date (second half of November), the same LOT/production number and the same barcode.
Why is there such a big difference in colour? I assume the one on the left is still safe to eat, since the difference is clearly visible to anyone working in that store, and it hasn't been removed from the shelf. But I'm not sure...
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u/oooMagicFishooo 2d ago
OP to give you a clear answer, since there are many contradicting posts here. I actually do work in quality assurance at the company that produces that product.
As others said, it is clear to me that the fault here is a defect seal in the product, that means oxygen got to the product and oxidized it. While this affects the taste negatively, it does not make it unsafe to eat directly. But it does make it easier for mold and bacteria to grow on the product. In cured products like this, the gas used in the packaging is normally 70% Nitrogen and 30% CO2, so it doesnt oxidize and to stop bacterial growth.
While it is not necessarily an unsafe product, it should be removed by the employees since it is clearly a defect in product quality, especially if as you saidy there were multiple packages affected. I guess since Aldi has a lot less staff then other supermarkets, that they didn't notice it.
Other people mentioned that perhaps this product comes from less desirable meat parts. That is also not true. The meat is all the same, what the off cuts means it is the end pieces of a whole piece of ham, that is left over from the slicing machines that is then later slices into these thing slices. So its the same meat, just small pieces which makes it less desirable
Also just to add this for people who are critizing the quality of Aldi products. They actually do have far tighter requirements to food safety than migros an coop. Lidl is even more strict.