Emily Carter
Many brands of chicken are marketed as antibiotic-free or raised without antibiotics, but what do these labels actually mean? Despite the suggestions of these labels, the use of added hormones or steroids in poultry production is prohibited by law in the United States. In fact, any chicken package with a raised without hormones label must also state that no hormones are used in poultry production. So, while you may see brands advertising no hormones added, this is true of all chicken sold. Antibiotics, on the other hand, may be used in poultry production, but only if they are deemed necessary and prescribed by a veterinarian. Chickens treated with antibiotics are no longer eligible to be marketed as antibiotic-free. Labels such as no antibiotics ever or raised without antibiotics indicate that no antibiotics of any kind were used in the raising of the animal.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Hormones | No added hormones or steroids, as per FDA regulations |
| Antibiotics | No routine antibiotics, but may be given if birds are sick |
| Organic | May be labelled organic if raised without antibiotics and with outdoor access |
| Free-Range | May have outdoor access, but no precise federal definition |
| Humane | "Certified Humane" label indicates chicken was raised with humane practices |
| Nutritional Attributes | No difference in safety, quality, or nutrition compared to conventionally raised chicken |
| Processing | Processing aids and sanitizers must be approved for organic use |
| Vaccinations | Chickens may be vaccinated against common diseases |
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What You'll Learn
- Hormones and steroids are forbidden in chicken production by the FDA
- Antibiotics are only administered to chickens when prescribed by a veterinarian
- Chickens labelled organic must also be free-range, but not vice versa
- Chickens labelled No Antibiotics Ever or Raised Without Antibiotics may have been vaccinated
- Chickens labelled No Antibiotics Ever that get sick are treated and no longer marketed as such
Hormones and steroids are forbidden in chicken production by the FDA
The use of hormones and steroids in chicken production is forbidden by the FDA. According to FDA regulations, no chicken sold or raised in the United States contains added hormones or steroids. In fact, the use of artificial hormones in chicken production is forbidden by law, and this must be noted on the label. Any package of chicken with a “raised without hormones" label must also state that no hormones are used in poultry production. This is because the FDA has not approved any growth hormones for use in raising poultry.
The confusion surrounding the presence of hormones in chicken likely stems from the historical overuse of antibiotics in poultry farming. Today, antibiotics must be deemed necessary and prescribed by a veterinarian before being administered to chickens. While antibiotics are still used to treat sick chickens, there are strict protocols in place to ensure that food sold in grocery stores does not contain harmful antibiotic residues.
The FDA's ban on hormones and steroids in chicken production is part of a broader effort to address consumer concerns about hormone levels in meat. Consumers are increasingly aware of the potential risks associated with hormone residues in their food, and the poultry industry must be vocal about its practices to dispel misconceptions.
It is important to note that while the FDA prohibits the use of hormones and steroids in chicken production, other drugs and chemicals may still be used. For example, farmers may use individualized nutrition plans, probiotics, vaccines, and improved barn conditions to keep their flocks healthy. Additionally, there is ongoing debate within the scientific community about the potential harm of these drugs to human health.
In summary, the FDA's ban on hormones and steroids in chicken production is a regulatory measure to ensure the safety and quality of chicken sold in the United States. This ban is in response to consumer concerns and the potential risks associated with hormone residues in food. While the ban addresses the use of hormones and steroids, other drugs and practices may still be utilized in chicken production, highlighting the complex nature of poultry farming and food safety regulations.
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Antibiotics are only administered to chickens when prescribed by a veterinarian
Antibiotics are an important tool in keeping large populations of birds healthy. Chickens, like all animals, sometimes get sick, and treating illness is a responsible part of animal care. When chickens fall ill, farmers work with animal health experts and veterinarians to determine if antibiotics are needed.
In 2017, the FDA took steps to regulate the use of antibiotics in raising chickens. The agency decided that some drugs that were once available over the counter would now require veterinary oversight or a prescription from a licensed veterinarian. The FDA also stopped the use of medically significant antibiotics for the purpose of promoting growth. The industry supports the FDA's proposed Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) that ensures that all antibiotics administered to food-producing animals are only done so under the supervision and prescription of licensed veterinarians.
The National Chicken Council believes that medically important antibiotics should only be used on farms to treat and prevent disease, not to promote growth. The majority of antibiotics used in raising chickens are not used in human medicine. However, antibiotics that are used in human medicine will only be permitted to be used to address disease and treat sick animals and even then, they will be used under the supervision and prescription of a veterinarian.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recognizes antibiotic resistance as an issue that spans human and animal health concerns. They urge farmers to use antibiotics only as instructed by a veterinarian and to implement high animal welfare standards to reduce the need for drugs. The CDC also notes that chickens on industrial farms have undergone genetic modification, leaving them prone to health problems.
It's important to note that even if a chicken is given antibiotics to treat or prevent disease, federal rules require that the antibiotics must have cleared the bird's system before leaving the farm. The FDA and USDA have monitoring and testing programs to ensure that food at the grocery store does not contain harmful antibiotic residues.
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Chickens labelled organic must also be free-range, but not vice versa
Chicken is a versatile lean protein that is popular with adults and children alike. However, it is important to be aware of where your food comes from and ask questions as a consumer.
In the UK, the chicken industry is worth over £4 billion a year and employs about 37,000 people. Most of the chickens are barn-reared, with a smaller proportion being free-range and fewer than 5% organic. While there is a huge difference between intensively farmed and organic chickens, there is less distinction between intensively farmed and "technically" free-range chicken.
In the US, there is no federal government definition of "free-range," so the USDA approves these label claims on a case-by-case basis. Generally, the USDA permits the term to be used if chickens have access to the outdoors for at least some part of the day.
Regarding hormones and antibiotics, it is important to note that no chicken bought in the US contains added hormones or steroids, as this is forbidden by law and must be noted on the label. All chickens are technically antibiotic-free as federal rules state that if antibiotics are required, they must have cleared the birds' systems before they leave the farm. However, some chickens are labelled “No Antibiotics Ever" or "Raised without Antibiotics," meaning they were not given routine antibiotics, but they may have been given them if they became sick.
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Chickens labelled No Antibiotics Ever or Raised Without Antibiotics may have been vaccinated
Chickens labelled "No Antibiotics Ever" or "Raised Without Antibiotics" may have been vaccinated against common diseases. This is because, just like people, chickens sometimes get sick, and treating illness is a responsible part of animal care. When this happens, farmers work with animal health experts and veterinarians to determine if an antibiotic is needed.
A "No Antibiotics Ever" or "Raised Without Antibiotics" label is typically only one of a company's product lines. Some flocks on a no-antibiotics programme may get sick, just like other flocks, and some have to be treated with antibiotics. These flocks that have been treated with antibiotics are no longer eligible to be marketed as "No Antibiotics Ever" or "Raised Without Antibiotics".
Even if a chicken is given antibiotics in the course of its life to treat or prevent disease, all chicken you buy is technically "antibiotic-free" – federal rules state that if any antibiotics are required, they must have cleared the birds' systems before they can leave the farm.
Chicken labelled as "organic" must also be "free-range", but not all "free-range" chicken is also "organic". Less than 1% of chickens nationwide are raised as "free-range", according to the National Chicken Council (NCC). There's no precise federal government definition of "free-range", so the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) approves these label claims on a case-by-case basis. USDA generally permits the term to be used if chickens have access to the outdoors for at least some part of the day, whether the chickens choose to go outside or not.
In practice, most chickens stay close to water and feed, which is usually located within the chicken house. The organic food label does not indicate that the product's safety, quality or nutritional attributes are any higher than the conventionally raised product. Once the chicken goes to the processing plant, most of the practices are the same for chickens raised organically or conventionally. The major difference is that in processing chicken that is labelled organic, any processing aids or sanitizers used must also be approved for organic use.
According to the ASPCA, Animal Welfare Approved chicken is raised with the most rigorous standards in the industry as it pertains to a chicken's conditions during raising, transport and slaughter.
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Chickens labelled No Antibiotics Ever that get sick are treated and no longer marketed as such
It is important to note that no chicken sold in the United States contains added hormones or steroids. Federal regulations by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) prohibit the use of such hormones, and any chicken package with a "no hormones" label must also include this information.
Chicken labels such as "No Antibiotics Ever" or "Raised Without Antibiotics" are typically only one of a company's product lines. Chickens in these lines may still get sick and require treatment with antibiotics. However, once a flock in a "no antibiotics" program has been treated with antibiotics, it is no longer eligible to be marketed as "No Antibiotics Ever" or "Raised Without Antibiotics."
The use of antibiotics in chicken farming is a contentious issue. While the overuse of antibiotics can be problematic, some argue that there has been an overcorrection due to pressure from animal rights groups, and antibiotics are a crucial tool in maintaining the health of large bird populations when used correctly. According to the National Chicken Council, companies employ various management tools to keep birds healthy, including improved barn conditions, individualized nutrition plans, and vaccines.
When chickens in a "no antibiotics" program get sick, farmers work with veterinarians to determine if antibiotics are necessary. If antibiotics are administered, the birds must go through a withdrawal period before leaving the farm to ensure that no harmful antibiotic residues remain in the meat. The FDA and USDA have extensive monitoring and testing programs in place to ensure food safety in this regard.
While the "No Antibiotics Ever" label does not guarantee disease-free birds, it indicates that the company has committed to raising birds without antibiotics and will label those that were successfully raised without them. Consumers who wish to support this commitment to innovation and responsible animal care may choose to purchase chicken with this label.
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Frequently asked questions
Chicken labelled as "antibiotic-free" typically means that the chicken was not given routine antibiotics but may have been given antibiotics if they became sick.
Some brands that produce or serve meat raised without antibiotics include Bell & Evans, Perdue, Tyson, Applegate Farms, Coleman Natural, Panera Bread, Chipotle, Chick-fil-A, and Subway.
According to the FDA, no artificial or added hormones are used in the production of any poultry in the United States, so this label is not indicative of a unique selling point.
Since the use of artificial or added hormones is forbidden by law in the US, all brands of chicken can be labelled as "no hormones added".
"Organic" chicken must also be "free-range", but not all "free-range" chicken is "organic". Chicken labelled as "organic" must be raised without antibiotics and undergo annual on-farm inspections.
