In the old days, the task of choosing chicken to prepare for dinner was as simple as visiting your local supermarket and placing a package of chicken breasts into your grocery cart. Things are a bit more complicated these days. You now have your choice of all natural, antibiotic free, free range and a host of other variations relating to how the chicken that lands on your table was raised. Navigating the chicken aisle at your grocery store can leave you dazed and confused unless you're familiar with the myriad of chicken types that are offered at most supermarkets. Here are some pointers on how to pick the right chicken for your next family dinner.
Certified humane
This is a term you see more and more on the labels of packaged chicken. It simply means that the living conditions under which the chickens were raised were inspected and were deemed above the federally mandated standard. Chickens raised under certified humane conditions have enough space to allow natural free movement and free access to food, water, and other necessities needed to maintain their health. If a farm meets these standards, they are allowed to carry the “Certified Humane Raised and Handled Logo” on their packaging. Certified humane chickens are given no antibiotics unless ill.
Free range
Free range chicken are required to have free access to the outdoors as well as a minimum pen area of two square feet, although this requirement isn't verified. If you're concerned with the welfare of the bird, choose chicken that's labeled both free range and certified humane to ensure the bird was treated in the most humane manner possible. Free range chicken are not given antibiotics.
Organic
Chicken marked as organic on the packaging were raised and fed verified organic feed without animal-by-products. The criterion for being labeled organic is more stringent than the requirements needed to receive the free range designation. Organically raised chickens are required to have at least two square feet of pen space per chicken as well as access to the outdoors. Organic chickens are raised without the use of antibiotics.
Natural
When chicken packaging is labeled natural it means no artificial ingredients were used during process. Even though a chicken is labeled as natural doesn't rule out the possibility that antibiotics were given to the bird at some stage in its life.
When it comes to picking chicken, a little education will allow you to pick not only a healthier chicken, treated without antibiotics, but one that was raised in the most humane manner. Keep this in mind the next time you're at your grocery store.
