Compare poultry

Research · Poultry

What our research found about poultry

Chicken and turkey labels are full of marketing terms. USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service says hormones are not allowed in raising poultry, so “no hormones added” can only appear with a statement that federal regulations prohibit them, which means it does not distinguish one brand from another. “Free-range” describes outdoor access without specifying how much, and “pasture-raised” is defined by certification programs or the producer’s own standard, so ask what the standard actually requires.

Fresh and frozen poultry needs safe handling and cooking to a safe internal temperature. Seasoned and breaded poultry products add ingredients, oils and sodium, so those labels should be read like any prepared food. Whole birds, cuts and ground poultry differ in price per pound and cooking use.

Products

406 brands

Full labels recorded

718% of the shelf

Maker says organic

2maker’s claim

List an added sweetener

0of 7 labels

List a seed oil

0of 7 labels

Typical label length

6ingredients (median)

Counts use complete, current ingredient labels only. Records without a published label stay unknown and are never counted as clean.

What to compare

• Raising claims. Free-range, pasture-raised and organic are different standards; look for a named certifier.
• Hormone claims. Not meaningful for poultry, since hormones are prohibited.
• Added ingredients. Breaded and marinated products list oils, sodium and sugar.
• Cut and price. Compare price per pound of the exact cut.

References

1. Meat and poultry labeling terms USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service
2. Certified Humane animal-care standards Certified Humane
3. Organic labeling and what the USDA Organic seal means USDA Agricultural Marketing Service
4. AGA grass-fed standards American Grassfed Association