Reader Sean is the most recent reader to purchase food at a major “big box” store, find it unacceptable, and send us a picture.

Sean writes:

Early this month (July), my wife purchased a fried chicken (already prepared) from the Walmart Deli department located in Paola, KS. When we opened the packaging, the first thing I noticed was a few chicken feathers on the OUTSIDE of the breading on a leg and thigh. We chose not to eat the chicken and disposed of it because we felt it might have been handled in an unsanitary fashion.

Usually, I’d expect to find something like this mixed in and fried into the breading – not just laying on the outside. Needless to say, it’s curbed my appetite for fried chicken.

I contacted the Walmart and asked to speak to a manager. The person I spoke to told me to bring my receipt in and they’d exchange the chicken, but by that time, I wasn’t really interested in another bird. They didn’t offer me any other option.

I contacted Walmart corporate, and left feedback on their web form but no one has contacted me.

Before anyone starts to wonder what the big deal is over a couple of feathers, this isn’t the first time I’ve gotten bad product from this particular Walmart. I’ve gotten home and found that I had bought moldy flour tortillas or hamburger with tooth-busting, pebble-sized bone fragments in it. I’m just mad enough to vent about it now. It’s a small town, with one other grocery store and otherwise, not a lot of shopping choices.

All we can say is, “Ew.” Well, “Ew” and “The odds that Walmart is using proper food safety procedures are pretty slim if your cooked food has uncooked chicken feathers stuck to the outside.”

(Photo:Sean)

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.