Is it still safe to eat sliced turkey after that slimy goo starts forming on it? (2024)

Joey, Colorado Springs, CO asked:

Is it still safe to eat sliced turkey after that slimy goo starts forming on it?

Answer:

If it passes the sniff test, you're good to gobble. "Strong off-odors, not slime, indicate spoilage," says Brian Nummer, Ph.D., a food-safety professor at Utah State University. That's because the goo you see is produced when harmless lactobacillus bacteria start feasting on the sugar that some manufacturers add for flavor. However, if lactobacillus bacteria multiply to the point that a smell develops, there's a small chance that bacteria responsible for foodborne illness could multiply, too. For the longest-lasting turkey, buy it presliced and packaged (what's cut at the deli counter is exposed to more bacteria). Presliced turkey is often heat-treated in the package, making it good for at least 7 days after opening. If your turkey is carved from a whole bird, just stick to Nummer's 7-day plan.