Turkey Safe to Eat???

[silentcrow]

I just got done prepping the turkey and putting it in the oven. When I opened the package (yes, store bought, unfortunately), it looked like it had had a sore on its breast, a bit bigger than a pencil eraser. The skin was pink in that area, and when I removed the affected skin, it was kinda bubbly and slimy underneath. I removed all that, but there was still dark pink on a section of breastbone.

Is this thing going to be safe to eat? The "sore" reminded me, in texture, of bumblefoot. Thanks for any info, suggestions, etc.

[mary,tx]

eew. A spot is one thing. I don't like the bubbly, slimy part. An abcess of some sort? Why don't you check with the Butterball people and see what they have to say. I know if I'd butchered it, I would have tossed it.
mary

[silentcrow]

I just wrote to the company, Cargill (Riverside turkey), and tore them a new one. I'm hoping now that I can find a local supplier for a Christmas turkey. If not, I have no idea what I'll do.

[mary,tx]

I think there is a turkey hotline where you can actually talk to someone today for advice. Try Butterball.com and see if they have a phone listed. You don't have to tell them that it is not one of their turkeys.
It may be that the bird would be just fine after it is baked.
mary

[silentcrow]

Tried the butterball number, but been on hold so long, my phone died I don't have anything else here to make

[Jennifer L.]

I wouldn't hesitate to eat it if you 've cut off the bad bit. Sounds to me like the turkey was injured a short time (like hours) before butchering, and what you are seeing (slime ) is the inflamation that occured due to the injury. If the turkey had had an abcess down to the breast bone, I'm fairly sure it would have looked bad enough on the outside to have the whole bird condemned as it went through processing.

Jennifer

[naturelover]

I'm wondering if the spot you found was the oil gland on the breast of a sexually mature male turkey, (a scent gland that produces and releases preening-oil for the birds to preen their feathers with) and perhaps it wasn't properly removed during processing. Was it located right in the center of the breast and a bit upwards of the breast bone but below the throat? And was the neck of the turkey still attached? On a living, un-feathered turkey the gland looks a bit like a lumpy wart with hairy tufts growing out of the center of it. Underneath the skin the area is oily and bubbly around the gland. If that's what it was you can remove it and clean that area up a bit.

Another thought is - Was it a turkey that had been injected with buttered oils when it got processed (like the injected butterballs)? If so look and see if there are any injection sites elsewhere on the bird that have a similar appearance to what you found on the breast. If it was injected by hand I don't see how the processors would have missed a sore or abscess and let it pass.

If neither of these possibilities is applicable to your bird I'd say don't cook it - do return the bird to the suppliers for a refund/replacement - and make sure your prep area and your hands and arms have been thoroughly sanitized before prepping any other food. Don't take any chances with any suspect poultry if you can't identify the problem.

.

[silentcrow]

I don't think it was an oil gland. It was a thickened, slightly darker patch on the skin, about as round as a pencil eraser. Location was at the front of the breastbone, within the first inch. The "bubbly" area under the skin reminded me of impact areas when skinning road killed deer. Same with the slime. I did check for unusual odors but didn't notice any. My mom said to try cooking it, so I am...With the warning that anyone eating it does so at their own risk! I may thaw some venison burger I found in the freezer, as an alternative.

I'm now trying to find a locally raised turkey for Christmas. I've had it with wondering what's in things. If I can find a processor, I'll try raising a few next year. Maybe even if I can't find a processor!

[agmantoo]

The spot is where the turkey rubbed when it sat down to rest and the breast came in contact with the ground. This is rather common and just cut that callused area out and enjoy your meal.