(USA) The National Chicken Council released a detailed statement in defense of fresh chicken this week after TV personality Dr. Oz “raised some questions but provided incomplete answers” about how the birds are produced in a recent segment.
The show suggested chickens are bigger today because of chemicals and drugs given to the birds that carry health risks for humans.
NCC emphasized that animal health products have no effect on antibiotic resistance in people, and stressed that any bacteria on chicken is easily killed through the heat of cooking.
The NCC also addressed the use of roxarsone, which contains natural arsenic, to promote gut health. And it clarified that chickens are larger today than they were years ago due to better animal husbandry, not genetic modification or bioengineering.
“Nothing is given to chickens that is not approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration,” the NCC said.
A portion of the Dr. Oz program can be viewed here.
Source: Meating Place
