There’s a big debate that has been going on for the past few years about the benefits (or lack of benefits, depending on which side of the fence you sit on) of organic meat.
Organic poultry, like other organic meats, is supposed to be healthier for us. Organic is a way to avoid all sorts of non- nutritional ingredients. Arsenic, for example, is a common ingredient in conventional chicken feed. It is used to keep parasites away. So when we buy our chicken from conventional farms, we may be getting traces of this toxic chemical.
You might also be getting a dose of hormones and antibiotics.
A new research study has brought to light the confusion around the labeling of poultry. According to the study, many chicken products are labeled as “natural.” However, natural does not mean that the chicken you are buying is free of antibiotics.
Many health experts agree that antibiotics may pose a health threat. Antibiotics are added to chicken feed because they help animals to grow faster. They are also used to prevent disease from spreading in the close confines of conventional chicken farms.
There is concern that this constant exposure to antibiotics will lead to the development of bacteria resistant to antibiotics. Which means both animals and humans could be infected with a destructive form of bacteria that won’t respond to treatment.
Now, the largest meat producer in the U.S. has decided to change to antibiotic-free feed and to label all of its chicken products with a new phrase: “100% All Natural Chicken Raised Without Antibiotics, No Hormones Administered, No Artificial Ingredients.”
This is good news, and definitely a step forward. But don’t be fooled by that “all-natural” label if you are looking for organic chicken, says Marion Nestle, a professor of nutrition at New York University.
All-natural does not mean the same thing as organic. The feed used to raise all-natural chicken can still have non- organic ingredients or animal by-products.
To get true organic produce means that poultry are allowed to range free and are fed natural diets. These diets are certified to be free of antibiotics and hormones. Look for the USDA organic label.
Another thing to be aware of when shopping are the words “free range.” Free range simply means that a chicken is let outdoors. It does not mean that chickens are fed a proper diet, or that conditions are clean and disease-free. Nor does it mean that this meat is organic. Again, you must look for a certified label to make sure you are getting organic
chicken meat, if that is what you are really looking for.
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Tags: high protein diet, nutrition advice
