Perdue's Plastic-Heavy Chicken Packaging Angers Eco-Conscious Shoppers

On October 26th, 2025, a Reddit user in the r/Anticonsumption subreddit posted a photo of Perdue's chicken breasts, sparking a heated discussion about the company's excessive use of plastic packaging. The large plastic bag containing the chicken includes 24 ounces of meat wrapped in individual plastic pouches, which many consumers found to be an egregious waste of resources.

"This much plastic on raw meat is so immoral. I lost my mind seeing this in the store," the original poster wrote. Several commenters agreed, with one user stating, "The waste of meat packaging was a big part of why I stopped eating it." Another sarcastically remarked, "But no antibiotics though! Only microplastics, so that is OK then."

While some suggested Perdue's packaging may have been intended to provide convenience and easier freezing, others pointed out that there are more sustainable alternatives, such as reusable stasher bags, that can help reduce plastic waste. The issue of plastic packaging has become increasingly pressing, as humans produce hundreds of millions of tons of plastic waste each year, with around 40% of that waste coming from packaging.

Perdue Farms has faced scrutiny in the past, including a lawsuit this spring alleging the company contaminated water supplies with toxic "forever chemicals." The company claims to be working to reduce its environmental impact, but it remains unclear whether it is actively exploring plastic packaging alternatives.