Published on 12:00 AM, October 10, 2021

NUGGETS

Is it safe to eat poultry chicken?

The chicken dominates plates around the world. We eat more of it than any other protein. The average person has more than 98 pounds of chicken every year. But some poultry producers provide chemicals to feed the chickens in poultry that may have harsh repercussions on human health when consumed.

Here are few risks listed below:

Arsenic levels

For decades, poultry producers added the arsenic-based drug roxarsone to chicken feed. It made the chickens grow faster and gave their raw meat an attractive pink colour. This drug has not been on the market since 2011, but many other arsenic-based drugs are still part of chicken feed. Even at low levels, arsenic can cause cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. If you are concerned, stick to certified organic chicken, which does not allow arsenic in the feed.

Antibiotic risks

Some chicken producers put antibiotics in the feed or drinking water they give their flocks to control the disease. The medicines are not harmful to you or the chicken, but they can make you resistant to antibiotics you might need to fight your infections. If this concerns you, look for labels that say the chicken is antibiotic-free.