Meal kit subscribers report missing ingredients, spoiled deliveries amid supply chain woes

Customers of Blue Apron and Marley Spoon have flooded social media with complaints about incomplete or spoiled meal kits, following the bankruptcy of their former supplier FreshRealm. Some subscribers reported receiving boxes with only ice packs or missing most ingredients, while others said their food arrived spoiled after delays. Both companies have acknowledged the transition to a new fulfillment partner has been problematic and are working on fixes.

The disruption stems from FreshRealm's bankruptcy, which forced both meal kit companies to rapidly shift fulfillment operations. Misfits Market, which took over Blue Apron's warehouse work, discovered that inventory records from the bankruptcy filing were inaccurate, leaving little time to source replacement ingredients. This contributed to boxes arriving with only ice packs, partial ingredient sets, or spoiled proteins after heat exposure during delivery delays.

Both companies have publicly acknowledged the transition problems. Blue Apron is reducing its weekly menu options to focus on items it can reliably deliver, while adding quality control measures at its fulfillment centers. Marley Spoon similarly apologized and expects improvements over the coming weeks. Customers experiencing problems are directed to contact support through each company's help center, though some report difficulty reaching representatives for timely refunds or replacements.