Curdled Just Egg

December 21, 2023 8:39 AM

Twice now, I've opened a bottle of Just Egg, and it's been curdled. What's going on?

The first time, it was very, very curdled - like cottage cheese - and I threw it out. The second was only mildly curdled, and it's sitting in my refrigerator while I think about it. Both bottles were well within the "use by" dates. There was no bad smell.

I wrote the Just Egg people a few days ago, and I haven't heard back. Internet has reports of this happening, but just guesses about what might cause it and whether it's safe. I know I'm kind of asking for guesses here too, but maybe I can get more educated guesses. Or maybe someone here can find something more definitive online.

I'm OK with throwing out the current bottle (I'm immunocompromised, so I'm very cautious), but I'm not OK with continuing to buy it if this is going to be a thing. I've never had this happen before, so having it happen twice in a row is bothersome.

Does anyone actually know anything about this?

posted by FencingGal to Food & Drink (9 answers total)

I don't know anything about it directly, but I've had to do the same thing myself with Just Egg that was well within the "use by" date. I will be watching this question because I was baffled that it went weird so fast. (Also, given the price of it now here in Canada, it has become a rare indulgence, which is a bummer.)
posted by Kitteh at 9:23 AM on December 21, 2023

I've opened a bottle of Just Egg

Opened for the first time? Or are you talking about an already used bottle you're re-opening?
posted by dobbs at 9:23 AM on December 21, 2023

Opened for the first time. It was sealed, and I didn't see any problem with the seal.
posted by FencingGal at 9:37 AM on December 21, 2023

Did you get them from the same grocery store? Could be a storage or shipping problem. I'd maybe give it a chance from a different store at least once before writing it off.

Their faq addresses separation (tells you to shake well and says it's fine within the expiration window) but yeah, I'd be leery of more stubborn separation like you mentioned that doesn't dissolve back in after shaking. At the very least, that sounds like a quality issue that's worth a complaint.
posted by fountainofdoubt at 9:54 AM on December 21, 2023

I can’t say why, but I’d take it back to the store and tell them what happened instead of just tossing it. Maybe they won’t give you your money back (especially if you don’t have the receipt) but they might let you exchange it.
posted by tubedogg at 10:46 AM on December 21, 2023

+1 that this is probably a problem in the supply chain well after Just Egg has relinquished the product, and that I would suspect the store is mishandling the goods. In particular I would suspect that someone doesn't realize Just Egg isn't actually egg and they are handling it in a way that works for egg but not for a plant based egg substitute. I don't think you ought to suggest this to them, since I doubt they'd listen anyway, just take it back every time this happens and hopefully they'll eventually figure it out. I know it's inconvenient, sorry!
posted by potrzebie at 11:09 AM on December 21, 2023

They are responsive by email, just a bit slow so hopefully you’ll hear back from them.
posted by ellieBOA at 2:31 PM on December 21, 2023

Any chance it could have been stored too cold, either at the store or at your home?
posted by Thorzdad at 7:08 PM on December 21, 2023

I've had this happen a couple of times recently. Both times I ate the JUST egg anyway, and the cooked product was not appreciably different from normal. I suspect that the product became frozen at one point in transit but the only way to test that theory would be to buy some, freeze and thaw it, and then check the texture.
posted by MagnificentVacuum at 11:43 AM on December 22, 2023