Mia Patel
In 2011, the FDA acknowledged that Pfizer would stop selling Roxarsone, an arsenic-containing feed additive. In 2015, Snopes debunked the claim that the FDA announced that 70% of chickens contain cancer-causing arsenic. While the FDA has not explicitly admitted to arsenic in chicken meat, it has taken steps to address the presence of arsenic in chicken feed and is monitoring arsenic levels in the food supply.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Arsenic in chicken | In 2015, Snopes debunked the claim that "FDA announced in 2015 that 70% of chickens contain cancer-causing arsenic." |
| In 2011, Pfizer announced it would discontinue sales of Roxarsone, an arsenic-containing feed additive. | |
| In 2014, Zoetis, Inc. voluntarily withdrew the new animal drug application for 3-Nitro (Roxarsone). | |
| In 2015, Zoetis announced it would discontinue marketing Histostat (nitarsone), the last remaining arsenic-based animal drug on the market, by the end of 2015. | |
| In 2024, the FDA responded to a petition calling for the withdrawal of arsenic-laced feed given to chickens, turkeys, and pigs. | |
| The FDA claims it is continuing to evaluate nitarsone, the last remaining arsenical in the poultry industry. | |
| FDA's role | The FDA provides oversight and guidance to ensure food and beverages in the U.S. are safe. |
| Through its Total Diet Study, the FDA has been monitoring arsenic in the food supply for years. | |
| The FDA only approved animal drugs that contain arsenic. | |
| Arsenic in chicken feed | Some broiler flocks were given feed that contained 3-Nitro, a feed medicine containing organic arsenic. |
| In 2006, a report found that over 70% of the 8.7 billion American broiler chickens produced each year have been fed arsenic, and some of that arsenic stays in the chicken meat. | |
| Arsenic's effects | Science shows that low levels of arsenic do not harm chickens or the people eating them. |
| The FDA stressed that the amount of arsenic found in chicken is "too tiny to be dangerous to people who eat it." | |
| The FDA acknowledges that organic arsenic can convert to inorganic arsenic, a known carcinogen, in animal tissue. |
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What You'll Learn
- Roxarsone, an arsenic-containing additive, was used in chicken feed
- The FDA stressed that the amount of arsenic in chicken is not dangerous
- The FDA banned most arsenic in chicken feed in 2024
- The FDA has been monitoring arsenic in the food supply for years
- The FDA has not approved any arsenic-containing products for chickens since 2015
Roxarsone, an arsenic-containing additive, was used in chicken feed
Roxarsone is an organoarsenic compound that was used as a feed additive in poultry production. It was marketed as 3-Nitro by Zoetis, a former subsidiary of Pfizer, and used to increase weight gain, improve feed efficiency, and prevent parasitic infections. While it was approved for chicken feed in the United States, Canada, Australia, and 12 other countries, concerns arose about the presence of arsenic, a known carcinogen, in chicken meat.
In 2011, a study of 100 chickens found that those fed roxarsone had higher levels of inorganic arsenic in their livers compared to untreated chickens. Although the FDA stressed that the amounts were too low to be dangerous to consumers, Pfizer announced it would voluntarily discontinue sales of the feed additive in the United States, and its use was ended in June 2011. The marketing authorization for 3-Nitro was officially withdrawn in October 2013.
Despite these concerns, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the USDA have provided reassurance about the safety of chicken meat. The FDA has monitored arsenic levels in the food supply for years through its Total Diet Study, and the USDA tests chicken samples against FDA tolerance levels. According to these agencies, there is no evidence that the low levels of arsenic found in chicken meat pose a health risk to consumers.
It is important to note that the presence of arsenic in chicken meat has been a controversial topic, with conflicting claims and studies. While some sources indicate that arsenic was present in chicken meat, others refute the claim that 70% of chickens contain cancer-causing levels of arsenic. The debate highlights the need for ongoing research and regulatory oversight to ensure the safety of the food supply.
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The FDA stressed that the amount of arsenic in chicken is not dangerous
In 2011, the FDA announced that Pfizer would discontinue sales of an arsenic-based feed additive called Roxarsone. This was due to findings that chickens who ate feed containing Roxarsone had higher levels of inorganic arsenic in their livers than chickens who had not been fed Roxarsone. However, the FDA stressed that the amount of arsenic found in the chickens was "too tiny to be dangerous to people who eat it".
In 2015, Snopes debunked the claim that "FDA announced in 2015 that 70% of chickens contain cancer-causing arsenic". The FDA did find that an ingredient in chicken feed that contains arsenic, called Roxarsone, may make its way into parts of the bird that are eaten. However, the FDA said that people did not need to stop eating chicken that may have been treated with the drug. The FDA's deputy commissioner for foods, Michael Taylor, stated that the study raised "concerns of a very low but completely avoidable exposure to a carcinogen".
In 2015, the FDA also published several follow-up studies that affirmed the results of the 2011 study. These studies showed that there were no longer any FDA-approved arsenic-containing products for chickens. The FDA provides oversight and guidance to ensure food and beverages in the U.S. are safe, and through its Total Diet Study, it has been monitoring arsenic in the food supply for years. The USDA also monitors the food supply for arsenic and other chemicals, and all chicken produced in the United States is inspected by the USDA. Inspectors test meat samples for chemical residues, and all poultry must comply with USDA standards before entering the marketplace.
While there have been concerns about the presence of arsenic in chicken, the FDA has stressed that the amount of arsenic found is not dangerous to human health. The FDA and USDA continue to monitor and regulate arsenic levels in chicken to ensure its safety for consumption.
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The FDA banned most arsenic in chicken feed in 2024
In 2024, the FDA banned most arsenic in chicken feed. This decision came after years of debate and study on the presence of arsenic in chicken meat and its potential harm to human health.
Arsenic is a naturally occurring element that can be found in various compounds and products, including some foods like apples and rice. While some forms of arsenic are non-toxic, inorganic arsenic is considered a known carcinogen, or cancer-causing substance.
In the early 2010s, concerns arose regarding the use of arsenic-based additives in chicken feed. A particular product called 3-Nitro, containing the organic arsenical roxarsone, was found to increase the levels of inorganic arsenic in chicken livers. Even though the levels were deemed safe for human consumption, the product was voluntarily removed from the market in 2011.
In 2015, the FDA addressed circulating claims that ""70% of chickens sold for food in the U.S. contain cancer-causing arsenic." While the FDA did not confirm this exact percentage, they acknowledged the presence of arsenic in chicken meat due to the use of arsenic-based animal drugs. The FDA stated that the levels of arsenic were ""very low"" and did not pose a significant health risk to consumers.
By 2024, the FDA had banned most arsenic-containing products for chickens, with companies like Zoetis announcing the discontinuation of Histostat (nitarsone), the last remaining arsenic-based animal drug on the market. This decision aligned with the FDA's ongoing efforts to ensure food safety and protect public health.
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The FDA has been monitoring arsenic in the food supply for years
Arsenic is an element that is present in many compounds. It is found in many foods, including apples and rice. In 2011, the FDA announced that Pfizer would discontinue sales of an arsenic-based feed additive called Roxarsone, which was used to kill parasites and promote growth in chickens. The FDA stressed that the amount of arsenic found in chicken meat was too tiny to be dangerous to people who eat it. However, Pfizer still decided to pull the product off the market.
It is important to note that the FDA has said that the levels of inorganic arsenic detected were very low and that people did not need to stop eating chicken. The FDA has also stated that there are no longer any FDA-approved arsenic-containing products for chickens. The USDA also monitors the food supply for arsenic and other chemicals and tests samples from chickens against the FDA tolerance level. All chicken produced in the United States is inspected by the USDA, and inspectors test meat samples for chemical residues to ensure compliance with USDA standards before entering the marketplace.
While there have been concerns about arsenic in chicken, the FDA and USDA are actively monitoring and regulating arsenic levels to ensure the safety of the food supply.
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The FDA has not approved any arsenic-containing products for chickens since 2015
The use of arsenic in chicken feed has been a cause for concern for many consumers. In 2011, the FDA announced that Pfizer would discontinue sales of an arsenic-containing feed additive called Roxarsone. This decision was based on a study of 100 chickens that found higher levels of inorganic arsenic in the livers of chickens treated with the drug compared to untreated chickens.
Subsequently, in 2015, the FDA admitted that a significant percentage of chickens sold for food in the US contained cancer-causing arsenic. This admission caused widespread concern on social media about the safety of commercially produced chicken products. However, it's important to note that the FDA has taken steps to address this issue and ensure the safety of chicken meat.
In response to the findings of the 2011 study, Alpharma, a subsidiary of Pfizer, voluntarily suspended the sale of 3-Nitro (Roxarsone). This decision was made to facilitate an orderly process for suspending the use of the product in the United States. On February 27, 2014, Zoetis, Inc., which had acquired ownership of the veterinary drug, voluntarily withdrew the new animal drug application for 3-Nitro. Additionally, on April 1, 2015, Zoetis announced that it would discontinue marketing Histostat (nitarsone), the only remaining arsenic-based animal drug on the market, by Fall 2015.
As a result of these actions, the FDA has not approved any arsenic-containing products for chickens since 2015. The FDA provides oversight and guidance to ensure the safety of food and beverages in the US. Through its Total Diet Study, the FDA has been monitoring arsenic in the food supply for years. The USDA also plays a crucial role in ensuring food safety by testing samples from chickens against the FDA tolerance level. All chicken produced in the United States is inspected by the USDA, and inspectors test meat samples for chemical residues to ensure compliance with standards before entering the marketplace.
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Frequently asked questions
No, this is a false claim. In 2011, the FDA did suspend certain products after very low levels of inorganic arsenic were found in chickens, but the FDA said the meat did not pose a health risk.
Yes, chicken meat may contain small amounts of arsenic. The FDA has been monitoring arsenic in the food supply for years. The USDA also tests chicken samples against the FDA tolerance level and no samples have violated this level in the last 25 years.
The FDA has stated that the levels of arsenic in chicken meat are too tiny to be dangerous to people eating it. However, some are concerned about the effect of arsenic on children versus adults, especially considering the average American's increased consumption of chicken.
