Food safety question about pork sausage packaging

[CocoaNut]

I pulled an unopened roll of breakfast sausage (think Jimmy Dean) from the freezer. The plastic casing was puffed up with air, forming a separation between the sausage and the casing. Still partially frozen, I sliced off several rounds. There is no foul/funky odor nor off color, but I haven't fried it yet.

Should I throw this away, get off my lazy a$$ and go to the store to purchase more? If this were a vacuum sealed can, I wouldn't hesitate to toss it, so my good sense tells me "yes". Wondering if anyone else has experience with this.

[KaimukiMan]

when in doubt, throw it out.

if cans or packages are 'puffed up' something is off.

[cgarner]

Did you buy it frozen? If you bought it frozen and there was no thaw/refreeze then I'd say it's ok

if you had it hanging out in the fridge up to or past it's "use by date" then maybe you should toss it

the air may just be from the meat contracting from the cold, pulling away from the packaging and creating space but if it was frozen past its prime, then I wouldn't take a chance

[CocoaNut]

Thanks, but I tossed it. Just didn't want to chance it. But to answer the question, it went from grocery store to freezer... well before the use by date.

[beevod]

Would you rather toss the sausage or your cookies?

[Bada Bing]

Funny line. And It occurs to me that, in this instance, they could be sausage cookies!