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This month is all about poultry, covering topics like how to shop for poultry locally and what it might be like to raise your own chickens. Today, let’s talk a little about what to look for as you purchase chicken to feed your family. So raise your hand if you’ve been confused by all the different kinds of chicken available to you at the grocery store. Do I buy the “natural” chicken or the organic chicken? Does it need to be free-range? And is it better if it’s grain-fed or vegetarian-fed? What about sustainably harvested? So many choices! So much to baffle us! All of these options are so important to consider and understand.
Organic vs. “Natural” vs. Conventional
“Organic” refers to both the way the animal was raised and also to the way the animal was processed as it made its way to your supermarket or farmer’s market. If a chicken is labeled “USDA Organic,” then it was raised and grown on feed without the use of synthetic pesticides or fertilizers; it was not bioengineered, and there were no petroleum products or sewage sludge used. Organic chicken-raising is definitely more gentle on the environment than conventional agriculture. Organically-raised chickens are given sufficient space for exercise and grooming, and they have access to the outdoors and fresh air. Most importantly, the chicken was not given antibiotics or growth hormones.
“Natural” chicken refers to the processing of the animal after it has been slaughtered, but NOT the method in which it was raised. The natural chicken could have been fed anything. The natural chicken could have been given antibiotics and hormones throughout its life. Natural chicken must be free of artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, preservatives, and must be “minimally processed.”
Conventional chickens are routinely given antibiotics. Because the chickens are packed so tightly into the facilities where they are raised, diseases can spread quite quickly. Conventional farming prevents this by giving their chickens large doses of antibiotics. According to this article , “the chicken industry uses selective breeding for fast-growing animals, as well as growth-producing antibiotics to produce birds that grow several times faster than birds in a natural state.”
Some other terminology you may see on your labels:
No drugs or growth hormones used, free range, sustainably harvested, 100% natural, grain-fed, vegetarian-fed – these terms are NOT regulated or inspected by anyone in order for your chicken to get a label that makes that claim. There is no guarantee that what your label says is actually what you are getting, so be aware!
What are your questions about poultry purchasing? Do you have a local farmer’s market where you can purchase directly from a farmer? Where do you buy your chicken?
September Week 1 Action Item:
- Talk to the butcher at your grocery store, or talk to a local farmer. Ask questions about your chicken–find out what kind of feed the chicken was given; ask about the chicken’s living conditions; ask what kinds of drugs were given to the chicken. See if you can get the answers you want to hear!
September Get Real:
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