Nowadays many people are concerned about where their food comes from, how it’s been raised and what it’s been fed. But sometimes, walking into the grocery store can feel overwhelming with all the different food labels on display. If you're tempted to buy organic chicken, but you're not sure what it means, read on! In order to be certified organic, chicken farms must follow a strict set of guidelines and be inspected annually by a third-party certification body to ensure those standards are met.These standards include:
The birds must be raised organically no later than two days after they hatch;
They must be fed certified organic feed for their entire lives. Organic feed cannot contain animal by-products, antibiotics or genetically engineered grains and cannot be grown using persistent pesticides or chemical fertilizers.
It is prohibited to give drugs, antibiotics and hormones to organic birds (please note: federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones in raising poultry).
All birds must have outdoor access.
Plus, organic chicken sold at Whole Foods Market has also been certified to the Global Animal Partnership’s 5-Step Animal Welfare Rating program opens in a new tab! If that’s not enough to tempt you, our organic chicken will be featured from August 12th to the 14th. So, next time you are in your local store, why don’t you try our flavorful organic chicken and tell us what you think!
