Are You Eating the Best Chicken Possible? A Detailed Look at Organic Chicken
If chicken in on your dinner menu, you are given a huge selection of options to purchase. The poultry aisle offers what seems like countless varieties of chicken, and with so many options, it can easily get confusing and be quite difficult to choose just one. Grade A, Grade B, organic? - What does it all mean?
If you are a budget conscious shopper, you have likely not only noticed the difference between all of these chicken labels, but you have probably also noticed that there is usually a higher price tag attached to the Grade A, organic varieties. If you are trying to be mindful of your budget, you might automatically grab for the chicken with the cheapest price tag. However, before you do, you should really think again; while a deal might seem nice, when it comes to food, it is not always a good thing.
Are you interested in finding out the scoop on organic chicken? Keep on reading to find out exactly what it is and why it is so much better for you.
Organic Chicken: What is it?
Organic chicken is quite different from other types of chicken products. The process of being organic starts from the beginning; how the chicken is fed. The animals are fed only natural foods that are not filled with additives, by-products, fillers, vitamins, hormones or pesticides. The food that they are eating is usually grown specifically for them.
What does this natural feed mean to the consumer? It means that you are also experiencing the benefit of eating naturally. When you consume chicken that is fed food that contains by-products, fillers, hormones, additives and pesticides, you are also consuming them. Doesn't sound too appealing, does it?
And, food is just a part of being organic; it also relates to how they are raised. Organic chicken is free-range; they are given access to the outdoors and are allowed to roam freely. They are never forced into pens and their housing is clean and sterile. This natural, clean environment means that there is less of a chance of disease - which means that you, the consumer, are less likely to contract illness.
The Benefits of Organic Chicken
As you can imagine, there are a lot of benefits to eating organic chicken. Because you are eating a product that has been fed all natural feed and that has been raised in a clean environment, you are reaping these benefits. You are not running the risk of eating by-products, antibiotics or pesticides and you aren't potentially eating chicken that has been exposed to illnesses within its living quarters. You are also not eating chicken that has been processed with dyes and other additives, which can potentially be harmful. It should also be noted that eating chicken that has been treated with antibiotics can potentially cause a resistance to certain bacteria in the consumer, which can potentially be a health risk.
In addition to eating a higher grade meat that is better for your health, organic chicken is better for the environment. How could this be so? Because organic chicken farmers do not use foods that are grown with pesticides and fertilizers that contain chemicals, which can be detrimental to the environment.
Another benefit; many people claim that organic chicken simply tastes better. Being all natural, it is quite easy to understand how this can be true.
How to Know that You're Buying Organic?
The most obvious indicator that you are buying organic is the label. This chicken is packaged and sealed with a label that indicates it is organic. However, don't be mislead by this packaging; the €organic€ label offered by the USDA indicates how the chicken is processed, not how it is raised. So, while you may be buying a chicken that hasn't been processed with fillers and other additives, you may not be buying a chicken that has been raised naturally and given all natural feed.
In order to ensure that you are buying organic, take notice of the appearance and the price tag. This chicken is usually smaller in size and has a lighter color than other types of chicken. This difference in size and color is due to the fact that is does not contain any added colors or preservatives. Also, the price tag of this chicken is usually double that of other types of chicken.
To Buy or Not to Buy?
Whether you choose to buy organic chicken or not truly is a personal preference. All types of chicken that is sold in the store has been inspected and is deemed safe to consume, according to the standards set forth by the USDA. So, it is up to you which type of chicken you should purchase.
If you are a budget conscious shopper, you have likely not only noticed the difference between all of these chicken labels, but you have probably also noticed that there is usually a higher price tag attached to the Grade A, organic varieties. If you are trying to be mindful of your budget, you might automatically grab for the chicken with the cheapest price tag. However, before you do, you should really think again; while a deal might seem nice, when it comes to food, it is not always a good thing.
Are you interested in finding out the scoop on organic chicken? Keep on reading to find out exactly what it is and why it is so much better for you.
Organic Chicken: What is it?
Organic chicken is quite different from other types of chicken products. The process of being organic starts from the beginning; how the chicken is fed. The animals are fed only natural foods that are not filled with additives, by-products, fillers, vitamins, hormones or pesticides. The food that they are eating is usually grown specifically for them.
What does this natural feed mean to the consumer? It means that you are also experiencing the benefit of eating naturally. When you consume chicken that is fed food that contains by-products, fillers, hormones, additives and pesticides, you are also consuming them. Doesn't sound too appealing, does it?
And, food is just a part of being organic; it also relates to how they are raised. Organic chicken is free-range; they are given access to the outdoors and are allowed to roam freely. They are never forced into pens and their housing is clean and sterile. This natural, clean environment means that there is less of a chance of disease - which means that you, the consumer, are less likely to contract illness.
The Benefits of Organic Chicken
As you can imagine, there are a lot of benefits to eating organic chicken. Because you are eating a product that has been fed all natural feed and that has been raised in a clean environment, you are reaping these benefits. You are not running the risk of eating by-products, antibiotics or pesticides and you aren't potentially eating chicken that has been exposed to illnesses within its living quarters. You are also not eating chicken that has been processed with dyes and other additives, which can potentially be harmful. It should also be noted that eating chicken that has been treated with antibiotics can potentially cause a resistance to certain bacteria in the consumer, which can potentially be a health risk.
In addition to eating a higher grade meat that is better for your health, organic chicken is better for the environment. How could this be so? Because organic chicken farmers do not use foods that are grown with pesticides and fertilizers that contain chemicals, which can be detrimental to the environment.
Another benefit; many people claim that organic chicken simply tastes better. Being all natural, it is quite easy to understand how this can be true.
How to Know that You're Buying Organic?
The most obvious indicator that you are buying organic is the label. This chicken is packaged and sealed with a label that indicates it is organic. However, don't be mislead by this packaging; the €organic€ label offered by the USDA indicates how the chicken is processed, not how it is raised. So, while you may be buying a chicken that hasn't been processed with fillers and other additives, you may not be buying a chicken that has been raised naturally and given all natural feed.
In order to ensure that you are buying organic, take notice of the appearance and the price tag. This chicken is usually smaller in size and has a lighter color than other types of chicken. This difference in size and color is due to the fact that is does not contain any added colors or preservatives. Also, the price tag of this chicken is usually double that of other types of chicken.
To Buy or Not to Buy?
Whether you choose to buy organic chicken or not truly is a personal preference. All types of chicken that is sold in the store has been inspected and is deemed safe to consume, according to the standards set forth by the USDA. So, it is up to you which type of chicken you should purchase.