Perdue whole chicken - no giblets?

[jazz lady]

Bought a 4 pound roaster from Giant and was surprised it was empty inside. NO giblets nor neck. And yes, I searched every crevice.

After that, I looked at the plastic wrapper and did see in small print on the package that said "parts of giblets may be missing." Is this something new?

 

[Kyle]

 

[Sneakers]

It's always had that disclaimer. Just checked one in the freezer I had from Sept 2020, and it has the same disclaimer.

 

[Kyle]

 

[vraiblonde]

Ew.....giblets..... I prefer not having to dig those things out of the bird.

 

[jazz lady]

Maybe it's a female chicken? Do females have giblets? I don't even know what a giblet is. Are they like bird testicles or something?

All chickens have giblets. They consist of the heart, liver, neck, and gizzard of the chicken.

 

[jazz lady]

It's always had that disclaimer. Just checked one in the freezer I had from Sept 2020, and it has the same disclaimer.

I haven't bought a whole chicken in awhile obviously.

I get that some of the parts may be missing, and that has happened in the past, but ALL of them? That was a first for me.

 

[jazz lady]

Ew.....giblets..... I prefer not having to dig those things out of the bird.

Exactly, but I would usually make stock with them plus any excess fat I trimmed and the wing tips. I just feel now I'm playing Russian roulette when buying a chicken now. Will it or won't it? Only the cavity knows for sure. Bwahahaha!

 

[kwillia]

You made me wonder... The case of the disappearing giblets: why do most chickens now come without livers, hearts and toenails? (newstatesman.com)

 

[jazz lady]

You made me wonder... The case of the disappearing giblets: why do most chickens now come without livers, hearts and toenails? (newstatesman.com)

Thanks. Seems Europe has pretty much done away with them so maybe the US followed suit.

 

[Kyle]

Thanks. Seems Europe has pretty much done away with them so maybe the US followed suit.

Surprising, considering some of the disgusting fare they consider delicacy.

 

[Sneakers]

I don't use them, even for soup stock, so I'd be happy not to have them added to the weight of the bird I'm paying for.

 

[Bonehead]

I am sure the companies are making money from them for other uses like dog and cat food.

 

[lucky_bee]

I don't use them, even for soup stock, so I'd be happy not to have them added to the weight of the bird I'm paying for.

agreed. I actually wondered the same thing last week when I too, bought a 5lb roaster and realized the giblets were MIA. I didn't mind, but I did wonder.

 

[jazz lady]

I don't use them, even for soup stock, so I'd be happy not to have them added to the weight of the bird I'm paying for.

Agreed, but old habits die hard. If it was food you bought, you used it even if you didn't like it, even the giblets.

When I had cats, they would get the liver and heart, then the rest would get thrown in a pot with onion and celery trimmings plus herbs to make stock. I now use premade boxed stock or from 'Better Than Bullion' since I mainly buy chicken already parted out nowadays.

 

[Bird Dog]

10157797526137805
..and all the giblets you need..

 

[Sneakers]

10157797526137805
..and all the giblets you need..

This wouldn't be the phone number of one of those "wake up in a tub of ice with a kidney missing" guys, would it?

 

[Clem72]

It's always had that disclaimer. Just checked one in the freezer I had from Sept 2020, and it has the same disclaimer.

Always and forever.....since at least 3 months ago.

 

[jazz lady]

Further research says this falls under the USDA's umbrella. Their answer:

Home | Food Safety and Inspection Service

The Food Safety and Inspection Service is responsible for ensuring that meat, poultry, Siluriformes, and eggs are safe and are properly labeled and packaged. Learn more about our inspection services and process.

www.fsis.usda.gov

How Are Giblets Packaged and Labeled?

In whole ready to cook poultry, giblets are located in a bag in the abdominal cavity. They will not be from the original bird. Giblets may also be purchased separately as livers, hearts, or a combination thereof, and labeled accordingly.

Ready to cook whole poultry is required to be packaged with giblets and will not bear a product name qualifier to announce the presence of the giblets as they are expected. If a bird is labeled "with giblets," it is optional labeling.

Whole poultry will contain at least half of each giblet. Parts of the giblets may have broken off during handling or may be missing due to trimming. Some are packed into the body cavity of the bird by hand and some are packed by machine.

USDA allows poultry processors to use labels stating that giblets may be missing — or, "without giblets" (commonly known as "wogs" in the poultry industry). Giblets may be lost or broken or may have been pulled from the processing line for not meeting inspection standards. Birds packed without giblets are required to bear labeling that states the giblets are missing. Likewise, the phrase "giblets may be missing" is a flag to alert the consumer that giblets may not be present.

Clear as mud. Spin the wheel of giblets fortune and you may or may not be a winner (or loser depending on your perspective.)

 

[Kyle]

They will not be from the original bird.

Foghorns got somebody else's giblets?