Truth in labeling: Looking for an honest chicken

Are you paying extra for poultry that's all-natural, hormone- and antibiotic-free? You might be surprised, as I was, to learn that chickens labeled "all-natural" can legally be pumped full of things like salt, seaweed extracts, broth and other things...none of which are naturally occuring in chickens! Even more shocking, birds fed certain antibiotics can still be labeled "Raised without Antibiotics."

A group called the Truthful Labeling Coalition is fighting for regulations that would require more accurate and consistent labeling on poultry products. For example, they believe that the term "Raised without Antibiotics" should be reserved for chickens that are...well, raised without antibiotics.

Fair enough, don't you think? To  learn more about the issues being raised by the TLC, visit their website at http://truthfullabeling.org.

Of course, the best way to know how your food was produced is to know the people who produce it. We eat chicken only rarely, but when we do, we buy it directly from a local farmer. Not only can I see how and where the birds are raised first-hand, but when I have questions about things like antibiotics or feeding practices, the farmer is happy to answer them.  I also have the satisfaction of knowing that my food dollars are going to support small, local farms rather than environmentally disasterous industrial feedlots.

Lest you think this is only an option for those who live in rural or agricultural areas, I should point out that I live in a major city on the Eastern seaboard. You might be surprised to learn just how close your nearest chicken (or dairy, or vegetable) farm is.

Farmer-consumer partnerships are a fast-growing trend, fueled by concerns over the ecological, economic, and health hazards of our current industrial food systems.  To learn more (and to find your local farmers), visit Local Harvest.