The grocery store presents shoppers with many decisions. Whether it’s a brand of mustard or the type of meat, consumers want to be in the know about exactly what they’re buying. Over the last few buying meats has become more confusing than ever. From kosher, to organic to free-range do you really know what you’re buying anymore?

If you’re purchasing chicken at the local grocery it’s important to do your homework. Many poultry producers feed small amounts of arsenic to birds to make them grow faster and produce meat that is pinker in color. The FDA’s research shows arsenic ingested by chickens does end up in the product on the grocery shelf which is later consumed by families across the US. This cancer-causing toxic chemical is fatal in high doses and is known to increase the risk of cancer in humans. Free range poultry is grown naturally with wholesome feed free of this toxic chemical, providing a more natural and safe alternative to mass produced poultry.

In addition to eating arsenic-laced food, the chickens are often exposed to incredibly filthy living conditions which can become a breeding ground for drug-resistant bacteria and illness. Research shows that nearly half of the mass produced poultry available in grocery stores may be contaminated with salmonella, listeria, E. coli and even traces of Staphylococcus aureus. Better known as Staph, this is a bacteria the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) doesn’t regularly monitor in this US food source.

Luckily, a safer alternative exists in free-range poultry. If you’re interested in finding out more about the benefits of eating free-range poultry, give Passanante’s Home Food Service a call at 1-800-772-7786 to set up an appointment today!