Categories: Hazel Rosetta Smith,
Chicken is one of the most versatile foods on the planet. This popular bird is roasted, baked, grilled, sauteed, braised, fricasseed, and fried, among other forms of culinary creativity. However, there needs to be deep consideration given to the care and precautions associated with its versatility.
I was shocked to learn that for decades, poultry producers added roxarsone, an arsenic-based drug to the chicken feed. It made the chickens grow faster and gave their raw meat an attractive pink color. This drug has not been on the market since 2011, but many other arsenic-based drugs are still part of chicken feed.
It has been shown by medical professionals that even at low levels, arsenic can cause cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Medical opinions are on the same mindset, to stick to certified organic chicken, which does not allow arsenic in the feed.
There is no dispute in saying chicken is good for you if you cook it properly. Bacteria love raw chicken. The most common kinds of bacteria are campylobacter and salmonella. About one million people get sick every year after eating poultry with one or a combination of these types of bacteria.
There is more to learn from the label on the chicken package that is of immense importance. The “inspected for wholesomeness” seal is meant to show that the U.S. Department of Agriculture or a state agency inspected the chicken and found no signs of disease. Other parts of labels may reveal how the chicken lived.
Chicken flies off the shelves for two reasons: its price and its many uses. It is much cheaper than beef or pork because there is more of it. Reports verify that U.S. facilities process more than nine billion chickens every year.
Chicken has just as much protein as beef and pork without all the fat and calories. An average sized breast has thirty-three grams of protein which supports bones, muscles, skin, blood, and immune system. It also has 10% of the magnesium we need every day, plus iron to carry oxygen to our cells. Chicken has prominent levels of tryptophan, an essential amino acid that makes mood-boosting serotonin.
Bacteria live on raw chicken and in its juices. Whenever possible, put chicken in a separate disposable bag in the grocery store to keep it from leaking and touching other foods. Thoroughly clean anything that touches the raw chicken. The safest place to thaw chicken is in the fridge, not on the countertop or in cold water.
To control disease, some chicken producers put antibiotics in the feed or drinking water they give their flocks. Reports say the medicines are not harmful to us or the chicken, but they can build up a resistance to antibiotics we might need to fight our own diseases. Look for labels that say the chicken is antibiotic-free.
I am discovering daily that knowledge is power in all aspects of life. What we love so much can be the thing that is killing us.
[Hazel Rosetta Smith is a journalist, playwright, and artistic director for Help Somebody Theatrical Ministries. Contact: misshazel@twc.com. Website www.hazelrosettasmith.com]
