For the past couple of years, people have been paying closer attention to the way their chicken breasts look. Something as basic as a convenient weekday dinner turned into a hot topic of online discussion and corporate criticism when shoppers noticed their chicken just looked… different.
While places like Costco have been the most common spot where people report finding this type of unusual chicken, one shopper recently called out a major manufacturer instead: Tyson Foods.
What’s Wrong With This Tyson Chicken?
TikTok creator Chris (@chris.be.cooking) shared a video showing what she says was a strange-looking piece of frozen Tyson chicken. The clip has pulled in over 62,500 views as viewers weigh in on what they believe went wrong.
In the video, Chris explains that she planned to make chicken tacos and grabbed a bag of frozen Tyson tenderloins from the freezer section. As she seasoned the meat, she noticed that something looked off.
“Why is it white? And why is it stringy?” she asks as she presses the meat between her fingers. The chicken begins to fall apart with little effort. “Look how stringy this is. Oh my God. It’s definitely going in the trash,” she adds.
What Is ‘Woody’ Or ‘Spaghetti’ Chicken?
Several viewers in the comments quickly suggest that what Chris found may be something known as “spaghetti chicken” or “woody chicken.”
Both terms refer to texture problems increasingly reported in modern chicken breasts. Spaghetti chicken describes meat that pulls apart into stringy strands with little pressure. Woody chicken looks similar but feels dense, firm, and rubbery instead of soft.
While both issues affect texture, experts generally say the meat is still safe to eat—even if most people find it unpleasant.
Jacob R. Tuell, PhD, an assistant professor at Northwest Missouri State University and a member of the Institute of Food Technologists’ Muscle Foods Division, told SimplyRecipes that these conditions link back to how today’s chickens are raised.
“As the breast muscles rapidly grow, their blood supply is not able to keep up, leading to degeneration of the muscle tissue over time, along with excessive accumulation of fibrous connective tissue and fat,” Tuell explained.
In short, chickens are growing faster than their bodies can properly support.
Chickens Are Bigger And Grow Faster Than Ever
Modern broiler chickens now reach sizes that would have been unheard of a century ago, according to a Vox report. Today, the average chicken in the U.S. weighs more than six pounds. In the 1920s, that number hovered closer to two pounds.
Even more striking is how fast they reach that weight. Many chickens can now grow to eight pounds in about 56 days. Vox reported that the rapid development puts enormous strain on their bodies and has been tied to higher rates of bone, heart, and immune system problems in contemporary chicken breeds.
Commenters Share Their Reactions
The comments section under Chris’ video quickly fills with strong opinions about store-bought chicken.
“If it ain’t got a bone leave it alone,” one person wrote.
“Tyson is the worst brand to buy,” another added.
One viewer shared a more extreme response, saying they stopped buying chicken entirely after their pets refused to eat it at home. “My dogs haven’t touched chicken in over a year. I’m not touching it either,” they wrote.
Others say they’ve completely changed where they shop. “I buy from a local butcher and I’ve never gotten chicken that looks like that. I quit buying from grocery stores,” one commenter said.
BroBible has reached out to Tyson Foods via email for comment. Chris has also been contacted through TikTok direct messages for additional details.