READING THE LABELS
Q: There are so many labels and logos on the average
supermarket chicken that it’s hard to figure out what
each means and which ones are important. What should I
look for?
Here’s what you need to know.
- “Hormone-Free” means absolutely nothing. I repeat:
absolutely nothing. By law, no chicken or turkey in the
United States can be given any kind of hormones or
steroids, so every chicken and turkey in the supermarket is
completely free of added hormones. The labeling is a
marketing gimmick to get you to think you are getting
something special. It might as well read “deadly-cyanide
free,” because, yes, all poultry sold in this country is also
free of deadly cyanide. - “Natural” has very little meaning as well; it refers to birds
that have no artificial colorings or additives and are
minimally processed. Natural birds are routinely confined
and raised in large batteries that offer no natural light or
access to the outdoors. Unless you are buying rainbow-
tinted birds, fresh meat—with no added ingredients—
should be considered “natural.” This is a self-enforced
label and is not checked by third-party or government
audits. - “No Antibiotics” bears more weight than either of the two
previous labels, indicating that the animals were raised
without the use of antibiotics. There are arguments on
both sides as to whether this is healthier for the consumer
or for the birds.