Advantages of Free Range Poultry

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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!

Why Eat Hormone-Free Meats?

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Hormone-Free Meat Delivery

An estimated 32.5 million cattle provide beef to Americans each year. 21.67 million of which have been injected with hormones to make them grow much larger

than average cattle. Although this industry is highly regulated by the USDA and FDA, a reasonable concern for the safety of these meats for human consumption has become a hot topic over the last years.

Much of the beef that fills the markets of America has been injected with unnaturally high levels of artificial hormones including Oestradoil, Progesterone, Testosterone, Zeranol, Trenbolone, and Melengestrol. The impact of ingesting this level of hormones is still largely unknown, but what many scientists do agree on is that these hormones may be responsible for a long list of incredibly dangerous side effects. Hormone residue in beef has been blamed for early on-set of puberty in young girls, which could lead to greater risk of breast and other cancers.

Similarly to the way pesticides are regulated in produce, the FDA regulates hormones in meats by setting levels of “tolerance.” The rapid demand for meats, particularly beef, in America has outpaced scientific research and the ability to gauge possible implications. As a result, scientists are still working to develop more effective ways to measure the steroid hormone levels in the “edible” meats from treated animals.

The meat industry will be ever changing as supply and demand impact the level of regulation from the US government. The fact of the matter is, the results of ingesting treated meats are largely unknown and are certainly a gray area.

Passanante’s Home Food Service provides our community of customers safe, all natural, hormone-free meats, and we do so with 100% confidence in their safety and wholesomeness. Give us a call today at 1-800-772-7786 and start feeding your family the foods they deserve!  

Healthy Meal Planning Made Easy!

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Enjoy delicious guilt-free food options from Passanante’s Home Food Services

As “Healthy January” comes to a close we know the will power to eat better that seemed so strong on New Year’s Eve may be beginning to fade. It’s no secret eating at home helps you not only save money but also save on calories, but unfortunately the art of healthy meal planning doesn’t come naturally to everyone. Lucky for us websites like MealsMatter.org exist to help us learn to make healthy decisions for ourselves and our families!

MealsMatter.org has a ton of great resources including “My Meal Planner”, “My Grocery List”, and even ”Substitutions”, which we think is particularly useful  for converting your favorite recipes into healthier versions that you still love.  Browse their website and find inspiration for great meals, as well as information about the positive influence family meal time can have on your children.

At Passanante’s Home Food Service we believe in the value of a delicious, healthy, home-made meal and are dedicated to helping you stick to your New Year’s Resolutions to treat you and your family to a healthier life style.

Leave a comment in the section below or on our Facebook Page and let us know what kind of recipes you would like us to publish on our blog. With all of the delicious hormone-free meats and organic vegetables available for delivery from Passanante’s we can find a way to make any of your favorite recipes guilt-free … or at least less guilt-filled! J

Here’s to a healthy February and a healthy life!

Your Friends At Passanante’s Home Food Service

Chicken ‘N’ Sausage Filé Gumbo

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In this weather who doesn’t crave a good gumbo recipe? Depend on Passanante’s Home Food Services to deliver delicious meats directly to your home so you can whip up awesome recipes like this one we found right in the heart of Cajun Country – New Orleans, Louisiana!

*Serves 10-14 bowls

What You Need:

  • 3 pounds chicken thighs
  • 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning (or salt and pepper)
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 cup minced bell pepper
  • 1/2 cup minced celery
  • 1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
  • 3 tablespoons Worcestershire
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground bay leaves
  • 2 1/4 quarts hot water
  • 1/2 cup sliced green onions
  • 3 cloves minced garlic
  • 1 pound smoked pork sausage, thinly sliced
  • Filé powder
  • White rice (cooked)

How To Make It:

Remove skin from chicken thighs, clean and pat dry. Season with cajun seasoning. Heat oil inlarge heavy pot. Sear chicken; remove and set aside.

Make roux by adding flour to hot oil in pot. stir constantly over medium high heat till medium brown.

Stir onion, bell pepper,and celery into roux; cook until tender. Return chicken to pot and add Tabasco, Worcestershire, bay leaves, cajun seasoning and water.

Cover and allow to simmer one hour.

Add green onions, garlic and sausage. stir, cover and simmer another hour.

Remove all thigh bones from gumbo.

Skim off excess oil. Serve in bowls over hot rice with warm French bread and filé powder.

Bon Appetite! 

2011 Meat Recalls : The Value Of Safe Foods

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The US Department of Agriculture recently released the meat recall statistics for 2011. A shocking 60 million pounds of beef, pork, chicken and turkey products were stripped from store shelves across the nation over the last 12 months. The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) website is always being updated with ongoing recalls in an effort to protect you and your family from ingesting dangerous bacteria including Listeria, E.Coli, and Salmonella.

The symptoms of bacterial food poisoning include but are not limited to nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, fever, diarrhea, headache, life-threatening forms of kidney failure, and even death.

Unfortunately, large-scale meat companies have become accustomed to recalls due to contamination of meats, but the punishment for careless distribution of potentially harmful foods is little more than a slap on the wrist for such producers. Small-scale producers, however, often face much more devastating disciplinary action despite the limited distribution of their products which frequently include raw and organic foods.

At Passanante’s Home Food Service we take pride in the quality of the meats we deliver to the homes of our customers. We believe our 96 year history of cleanliness and safety speaks for itself. Let us show you how it feels to forget about the worries of unsafe meats. Call us today at 1-800-772-7786 to speak to someone about your next food delivery!