Think you know a lot about organic foods? Tell us if these are little-known or well-known facts about our beloved bird, the chicken.
1. If a chicken says “antibiotic free,” that means it’s organic, right?
No. Just because a chicken hasn’t received antibiotics doesn’t mean it’s organic. It means it hasn’t received pharmaceutical medication to fight infection. Organic chickens can receive treatment for infection, but those treatments are natural remedies that may include ingredients such as garlic and epson salt.
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2. If a chicken says “hormone free,” that means it’s organic, right?
No. In fact, Federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones in raising all poultry, which means, if the law is being followed, no chicken has had hormonal treatment. A package that touts “hormone free chicken” might just as well say, “raised in the United States.”
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3. An organic chicken can be raised indoors, right?
No. An organic chicken must have access to outdoors.
4. An organic chicken can eat whatever it wants, right?
No. To be called “organic,” a chicken must consume only organic foods. This means the food itself is in compliance: it must be grown using no artificial pesticides or GMOs, among other things.
5. An organic chicken can “become” organic at any point, right?
No. To be certified as “organic,” a chicken must be raised according to set standards no later than two days after they hatch.
Katherine Gotthardt, writer for Wintergreen Organics & Naturals
