How to Buy the Best & Healthiest Chicken at the Grocery Store and What the Labels Mean
Good health starts with healthy food. Every year in the United States alone over 8 billion chickens are consumed. That’s a lot of chicken!
But are we buying the healthiest chicken possible?
When chicken is processed, it is packaged with labels to indicate how the chicken was raised. Why do we care about how the chickens are raised? We care because it’s important to our health and the health of our families.
The healthier the chicken was raised, the healthier that chicken will be for you & your family.
We need to start being more aware of how our food was raised and how this affects our health.
Not all chickens are created equal, especially those that we are consuming. Although it may seem tempting to grab any piece of poultry at the grocery store and run, there are definitely a few quick guidelines that will help you make smart, healthy choices. Not to mention make you think twice before you pick up any ol’ chicken meal again.
Organic is Best of Course …
There is no substitute for anti-biotic free, USDA Organic chicken. In fact, studies have shown that chicken that is not organic have nearly four times the amount of arsenic concentrations inside of them. Although there is debate across the boards on wether or not it is worth it to shell out the extra cash for organic- in the case of poultry, it usually is.
But how do we know what to look for at the store to make sure we are buying the safest chicken for our family?
Knowing what you should look for and what those labels mean isn’t always easy when you’re doing your grocery shopping though. Next time you toss that package of fresh chicken into your grocery cart, stop and read the labels carefully.
Use this guide to help you pick out the healthiest chicken for yourself and your family.
What do those Labels Mean?
– All Natural Chicken
Natural is a confusing label for chicken packages to bear, but in the simplest terms, chicken labeled as ‘natural’ means that it is minimally processed. No dyes, coloring agents, flavoring agents have been used.
Chicken labeled as ‘natural’ also contains information that gives you that meat processor’s particular definition of ‘natural’ because there are legally allowed variations.
- A ‘natural’ label does not mean the chicken is organic, fresh or raised antibiotic free. It simply means the chicken was not altered before it was packaged in any significant way.
– Organic
Chicken labeled as ‘organic’ is pretty popular today because people are wary of poultry pumped full of antibiotics. To qualify as organic, poultry must contain 95% natural ingredients, excluding salt and water, which are always considered natural by the USDA.
Products labeled as ‘100% organic’ don’t contain even that 5% exception. 100% organic chicken is raw, unprocessed and the best overall option for quality poultry in the United States.
– Free Range or Free Range Chicken
‘Free range’ or ‘free roaming’ are terms you see on a lot of chicken products. It might sound pleasant, like the chickens lived in a verdant pasture, but that isn’t always the case.
All the label means is that the chickens had access to an outdoor environment for grazing. If you’re concerned and want to buy full free range chicken where animals spend their lives mostly outside you’ll have to do some brand research.
Brands that sell this type of chicken almost always make it easy for consumers to find out about their practices. This a major selling point for many people with health or ethical concerns about chickens raised indoors.
– No Antibiotics or Antibiotic Free
The terms ‘no antibiotics,’ ‘antibiotic free’ and ‘no antibiotics added’ are becoming more common on poultry as people become more concerned with healthy food. To earn the right to use this label, manufacturers of chicken and chicken products must show sufficient documentation to the USDA to prove they don’t use antibiotics when raising animals.
- Chicken that isn’t labeled this way should be assumed to contain antibiotics.
– Hormone Free
Hormones are not allowed to be used in the production of chicken according to the USDA, so a label of ‘hormone free’ should accompany another that says ‘federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones.’ Just keep your eyes open and know that ‘hormone free isn’t a selling point since all chicken in the US is hormone free by law.
– Fresh Poultry
The words ‘fresh poultry’ are commonly seen on packages of chicken, but for many people the term is a bit confusing. Chicken labeled as ‘fresh chicken’ has never been refrigerated below 26-degrees Fahrenheit, meaning it has never been frozen.
When you buy this type of chicken you know you’re getting a product that hasn’t been stored in the freezer for months. This usually means better tasting chicken that’s easier to handle and cook at home, without the potential contamination risks that come with defrosting.
- Always keep chicken labeled as ‘fresh poultry’ refrigerated and eat it within a few days of purchase.
Where to Buy the Best Chicken
Every grocery store in the world sells chicken, but the fact is that not every piece of chicken is equal. That’s why you need to be discerning about where you shop.
Butcher shops that specialize in meat are ideal choice because the butcher will be able to tell you everything about the product. You’ll also usually end up with fresher meat and the ability to get any cut you want, from bone-in breasts to skinless thighs and legs.
- If you buy your chicken from the grocery store it’s best to look for a product that is labeled organic, natural and fresh. That means you’re getting additive-free chicken that’s healthy and hasn’t been sitting in a freezer for months.
Healthy chains like Whole Foods tend to offer high-quality, healthy chicken, but high prices often accompany these offerings. More and more grocery store chains are making healthier chicken options available to shoppers each day though. As we become more aware, businesses will make the necessary changes to ensure our food is healthy and safe.
Alternative options like your local farmers market can be an excellent place to buy fresh chicken as well. Just make sure you ask the vendor about the product they sell before you buy. Farmers markets are perfect to make fresh meat connections.
Knowing what type of chicken to buy can be a little bit difficult, so it’s best to do some research on your own about brands that are available to you. Take notes if you have to the next time you’re at the grocery store and get on the internet when you get home.
10 minutes of research can help you find a brand and type of chicken, like free range, 100% organic chicken, for example, that fits your needs and tastes. It’s not much effort for peace of mind when it comes to feeding yourself and your family.
And one quick word on healthy chicken …
Please Pass on the Nuggets and Patties
Yes, nothing will get a child (and many adults) more excited about chicken nuggets, you might want to put your foot down on these. Although there is also the appeal of heating them up quickly then serving, what is contained inside of these is not a pretty sight. Loaded with soy protein, corn starch, sugar, MSG, and numerous other unpronounceable ingredients, this is one you will want to pass by.
Nuggets and patties are highly processed and it’s tough to tell exactly what you are getting. They are usually made with various different parts of the chicken and not usually the highest quality chickens. If you must, however, you should opt for chicken fingers instead as these are usually made with less “filler” ingredients.
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