A Texas woman purchased a package of ground beef from H-E-B. Before cooking it the next day, however, she noticed it had changed color overnight.
TikTok creator Jess (@jessunscripted23) posted a video that shows the ground beef in question and asks for advice about whether it’s safe to eat.
“I just got this meat from H-E-B yesterday, and I put it in my fridge so that way I can cook it today,” Jess says. “And it’s this color. Like, is this normal? Is this OK to eat? I feel like it’s a waste of money.”
In the caption, Jess wrote, “Is this normal?”
Texas Woman Buys Ground Beef from H-E-B. Why Is It Grey?
In the comments section of the video, viewers assured Jess that it is not OK to eat ground beef this color. One H-E-B employee even explained what might have gone wrong.
“Although the package does say ‘sell by 9/21,’ it should not look like that unless it was left out of temperature,” the person wrote. “Yes, return the product and get a replacement. It should not be an issue.”
H-E-B’s account also weighed in. “Hi Jess,” the comment reads. “We’re sorry this happened. We believe a partner at your store took care of this already, but if there’s anything else we can do—please send us a DM. We are making sure your concerns make it to the right partners to ensure they’re addressed.”
Several viewers said they’ve had the same experience.
“This happened to me also,” wrote one person. “I honestly don’t even feel comfortable buying meat from H-E-B anymore. I’m taking my butt to farmers markets and butchers shops.”
Is It Safe To Eat Ground Beef That Has Turned Grey?
According to this food safety blog, it’s always preferable to purchase meat that is bright red, because that indicates it is extremely fresh. After oxygen exposure, the color can change, but that isn’t necessarily an indication the meat isn’t safe to eat.
Other signs of spoiled meat include a slimy or sticky texture and a strong odor. In that case, the food could have indeed been kept at an incorrect temperature for some length of time, either in the store or while in Jess’s possession.
And, of course, it is definitely not OK to eat spoiled meat, which can make you extremely sick. The Cleveland Clinic notes that this can easily cause food poisoning. Symptoms of that illness include fever, vomiting, and diarrhea. In severe cases, you can get meningitis, kidney damage or even failure, arthritis, and brain and nerve damage.
What Is H-E-B’s Return Policy?
H-E-B’s refund policy states that it will “cheerfully” exchange or refund most items with a receipt dated within 90 days of purchase. In this Reddit thread posted to r/HEB, a person said that they got a refund for a can of pasta sauce that turned out to be spoiled, plus every other ingredient the meat had ruined. One person said, “Any food item is returnable with good reason.”
BroBible contacted Jess via TikTok comment and direct message for comment. We also contacted H-E-B via email for comment.