A Suspicious Looking Chick-Fil-A Nugget Is Turning Stomachs
Although Chick-fil-A is a beloved fast-food institution in America, it's not exempt from public scrutiny. Sure, it has juicy antibiotic-free chicken and tasty sweet tea, but one customer on Reddit has some concerns over an unsightly chicken nugget.
Most of the time, Chick-fil-A nuggets are deep-fried in peanut oil for a crunchy, golden exterior with a juicy, white interior. However, the distressed Chick-fil-A customer posted a photo of a chicken nugget with some mysterious grey matter on the inside prompting concerns over freshness. The chicken nugget had a dark spot, which drew plenty of theories.
One sarcastic Reddit user commented on the thread pointing out the obvious by quipping, "I mean...it's a dead body." Although some Chick-fil-A customers shared the same concerns as the original poster, others came to the nugget's defense claiming that it was a safe-to-eat blood spot or remnants of chicken bone, while others suspected it was simply a piece of dark meat. One user wrote, "It's just part of the chicken."
Chick-fil-A's grey chicken might be more innocuous than it seems
Although it's not exactly easy on the eyes, there's a chance that the discoloration inside of the Chick-fil-A nugget is a normal by-product of cooking chicken. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, discoloration is common when cooking young, broiler-fryer chicken. Because the young chicken's bones never matured, marrow can easily escape the fragile bones and seep into the meat. When the marrow-laden mead is heated up, it leaves grey or purple patches on the finished product. However, it's perfectly safe to eat meat that has been discolored by marrow.
Additionally, the mystery nugget is probably not a result of being undercooked. According to Medical News Today, undercooked chicken can lead to serious illness and is marked by pink discoloration, not grey. However, if your entire batch of chicken nuggets is discolored and accompanied by foul smells and textures, there's a chance you might have a bad batch. If this is the case, consider returning your meal in exchange for a fresher one. While a small patch of grey in a chicken nugget may be nothing to worry about, you should practice caution and use your own best judgment.