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Chicken safety, terminology
Bird words Air-chilled. Carcass was subjected to cold air and mist, designed to inhibit microbial growth. The alternative: dipping carcasses in icy chlorinated water, which can cause cross-contamination if improperly managed.Free-farmed. The American Humane Association verified that the chickens were raised in a healthful environment and had access to enough clean food and water.Free-range, free-roaming. Poultry has had access to the outdoors, even if that means only that the door to the chicken house was left open briefly each day.Fresh. The bird’s internal temperature has never dropped below 24° F. Still, the chicken may be slightly frozen.Kosher. The chicken was prepared according to Jewish dietary laws. Salt was added as part of the process.Natural. No artificial ingredients, preservatives, or color were added. The bird was “minimally processed” in a way that did not fundamentally alter the raw product.No antibiotics administered, raised without antibiotics. Don’t assume this was verified unless you also see “USDA organic.”No hormones. Pointless: The USDA prohibits the use of hormones in raising poultry.USDA organic. A USDA-accredited certifier has checked that the chicken company followed standards, including: Chickens were raised without antibiotics, ate 100 percent organic feed without animal byproducts, and could go outdoors (though they may not have). For more about labels, see www.eco-labels.org.
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