Are growth hormones used in conventional chicken?

littlemommy1

Some chicken packages in the meat market say "FDA restricts the use of artificial hormones in poultry" or something along those lines. I tried googling, but didn't seem to find a definite answer. 

There's no such thing as organic chicken within 2 hours of my home. There's free range, antibiotic free, but nothing organic.  When Smart Chicken goes on sale I try to stock up.

CharlottesWeb

chicken and pork does not contain any growth hormones/steroids by law. That's all chicken and pork- conventional, "natural" or organic. Generally only organic chicken is free of antibiotics.

SulliInLove

No hormones are used. And meat can't be labelled "hormone free" as the animal would have its own hormones.

Plenty of other reasons to stay away from nasty conventional meat, though.

CDMay2006

Some people find responsible, healthy meat locally.  Perhaps you know someone who knows someone (ask around, ask a local butcher or game butcher) who has a small farm and from whom you can buy whole chickens that were raised responsibly, or you could find such a person using craigslist.  I know it depends a lot on the community, but it could be an option for you.

littlemommy1

There is a local farm that sells pork and beef that is hormone/antibiotic free. They still use GMO corn, and the animals are not free-range (although I'm sure they get a lot more room than most farms!) 

As far as chicken, there is a group of Amish that live 2 hours away. They come to the farmer's market and sell whole chickens. I assume since they are Amish they don't use antibiotics and raise them responsibly. It can always be bad to assume though! 

MrsOjoButtons

littlemommy1:

There is a local farm that sells pork and beef that is hormone/antibiotic free. They still use GMO corn, and the animals are not free-range (although I'm sure they get a lot more room than most farms!) 

As far as chicken, there is a group of Amish that live 2 hours away. They come to the farmer's market and sell whole chickens. I assume since they are Amish they don't use antibiotics and raise them responsibly. It can always be bad to assume though! 

Amish are notorious for running puppy mills, so I wouldn't trust them to raise chickens any better than dogs.

littlemommy1

MrsOjoButtons:

littlemommy1:

There is a local farm that sells pork and beef that is hormone/antibiotic free. They still use GMO corn, and the animals are not free-range (although I'm sure they get a lot more room than most farms!) 

As far as chicken, there is a group of Amish that live 2 hours away. They come to the farmer's market and sell whole chickens. I assume since they are Amish they don't use antibiotics and raise them responsibly. It can always be bad to assume though! 

Amish are notorious for running puppy mills, so I wouldn't trust them to raise chickens any better than dogs.

 

Really?! I've never heard that, but it makes me very sad! Like I said...it can be bad to assume...as I did!