Meghan Markle found herself at the center of a social media firestorm over the Thanksgiving holiday after posting a video of herself preparing a turkey that sparked widespread criticism over food safety concerns. The Duchess of Sussex shared the clip on Instagram, showing her rubbing spices onto raw poultry in her Montecito, California kitchen—but viewers quickly noticed she kept her rings and bracelets on throughout the process.
The backlash was immediate and harsh. Critics pointed out that wearing jewelry while handling raw turkey violates basic food safety guidelines, as rings and bracelets can harbor bacteria and create cross-contamination risks. Social media users were quick to dub her “Salmonella Sussex”—a nickname that spread rapidly across platforms as viewers condemned what they viewed as a significant hygiene oversight.
The controversy overshadowed what was meant to be a warm holiday message from Markle. The duchess had shared heartfelt Thanksgiving greetings through her lifestyle brand As Ever, expressing gratitude for supporters and the joy of hosting family and friends. The cooking video was accompanied by a lighthearted tone, but it was quickly drowned out by mounting food safety concerns.
Food safety experts emphasize that handling raw poultry requires careful attention to hygiene. Proper protocols include removing all jewelry, thoroughly washing hands, and taking steps to prevent bacterial contamination. For a public figure launching a lifestyle brand centered on cooking and entertaining, the misstep struck many observers as particularly problematic.
The turkey video incident represents just the latest in a series of challenges for Markle’s business ventures and public image in 2025. Her Netflix cooking show “With Love, Meghan” premiered on March 4, 2025, featuring eight episodes focused on cooking, entertaining and gardening alongside celebrity friends including Mindy Kaling and Drew Barrymore.
The show’s first season attracted 5.3 million viewers, but the second season failed to crack Netflix’s Top 10 in its premiere week at the end of August 2025. During an episode featuring Kaling, Markle corrected the comedian for repeatedly calling her “Meghan Markle” rather than using her married surname Sussex, explaining how meaningful it felt to share the family name with Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4.
Prince Harry and their children celebrated the show’s debut with a handwritten note on pink construction paper that read, “Congratulations mumma! We love your show, and we love you.” The kids also helped bake cookies for the Drew Barrymore Show audience, with Lilibet standing on a stool and Archie working alongside his mother in footage shared on Instagram.
Markle’s business endeavors have faced numerous obstacles beyond viewership challenges. She rebranded her lifestyle company from American Riviera Orchard to As Ever after encountering several trademark complications. The company plans to sell raspberry jam, honey, tea and cookies. However, Markle failed to sign the trademark application documents—an error she previously made when attempting to trademark her blog The Tig and her Spotify podcast “Archetypes.”
The trademark office also rejected her bid to sell clothing under the As Ever name due to a Chinese company called ASEVER already operating in that space. Additionally, a Spanish mayor claimed the As Ever logo copied his small town’s coat of arms.
Reality TV star Bethenny Frankel criticized Markle’s branding efforts in February 2025, arguing the duchess suffers from identity and authenticity issues. Frankel suggested that Markle and Harry have struggled to find their footing since leaving the monarchy, creating confusion about who they are as public figures.
The couple’s exclusive Netflix deal, worth $100 million, ended earlier this year. They have since entered into a first-look deal with the streaming platform, which Markle described as providing flexibility to work with Netflix or pursue projects elsewhere. She announced plans for a holiday special and hinted at exploring shorter content formats. “So I think looking at that format — again, it’s a year of learns — so we’re able to say, ‘Eight episodes for two seasons — it’s a lot of work,'” she said at Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Summit, suggesting she might offer recipes in two-minute segments rather than full 30-minute episodes.
The Netflix series also contained editing mistakes that eagle-eyed viewers quickly spotted. During the fourth episode titled “Love is in the Details,” footage showed Markle about to write on what appeared to be a blank chalkboard, but the next shot revealed remnants of erased handwriting already on the surface.
Meghan and Harry, who reside in a $14 million mansion in Montecito, California, continue to navigate the challenges of building entertainment and lifestyle brands outside the royal family. The “Salmonella Sussex” controversy serves as a reminder that in the digital age, even seemingly innocuous home cooking videos can generate significant public scrutiny and become viral moments for all the wrong reasons.