Americans have managed to convince themselves that eating chicken is much healthier than eating beef or pork. In reality, a single serving of chicken contains just as much cholesterol as beef, and eggs contain three times the amount. Even if you buy chicken, which has been organically and ethically raised, you still run into the cholesterol issue.
Chickens are the most abused animals on the planet and roughly nine billion chickens are killed in the United States for consumption every year. 305 million hens of those nine billion are solely used for their eggs. The environment, specifically the crammed warehouses in which they live, is extremely detrimental to the health of the birds and the people who work there. The workers can develop respiratory problems from exposure to microorganisms, gasses, disinfectants, detergents, pesticides, and formaldehyde.
Why are we telling you all of this? Today, March 19th, is National Poultry Day and we hope to guide you in a healthier direction in life. We want you all to live longer and healthier, and if that means telling you the dangers of eating chicken, well, that’s what we are going to do.
Factory Farms Produce Chemical Waste
The smells that emit from these farms are extremely hazardous to human health. The combination of manure, feed, chicken carcasses, and chicken waste is also an environmental threat. The sad part is that the air and odor emissions for such farms aren’t entirely regulated. Why is this? Chicken farming is over a $34 billion industry and stricter environmental regulations would “harm” the business.
Exposure To Antibiotic-resistant Bacteria
Thousands of chickens are crammed into massive sheds and fed large amounts of antibiotics and other chemicals, which prevent them from dying in their living conditions. These antibiotic food additives are considered high risk and may expose people to antibiotic resistant bacteria via the food supply. This can make it hugely difficult to rid the body of those bacteria.
E. coli and Salmonella
According to a USDA study, roughly 65% of broiler chickens contained E. coli in 2012. Because chickens live in such confinement, there is constant fecal contamination during processing. Additionally, a Consumer Reports analysis revealed that 83% of fresh broiler chickens had high levels of salmonella or campylobacter, which is the leading cause of food poisoning in America.
You Are Being Manipulated
When it comes to buying chicken, companies like to trick you into buying “healthier” options by using the terms “organic” and “free-range.” Hens that are raised for eggs are typically subject to crammed, unsanitary living conditions until they can’t produce any more eggs, referred to as “spent.” This is true for organic and inorganic poultry alike. Then these hens are slaughtered and thrown in high-speed grinders because they can no longer produce eggs, making them worthless.
Chickens Are Fed Arsenic
The chicken industry commonly feeds chickens arsenic, which makes them grow faster. This chemical is toxic to humans and can increase a person’s risk of neurological disorders, dementia, some cancers, and other general health problems.
We hope you take all of this into consideration next time you think about buying or eating chicken.
Vincent Stevens is the senior content writer at Dherbs. As a fitness and health and wellness enthusiast, he enjoys covering a variety of topics, including the latest health, fitness, beauty, and lifestyle trends. His goal is to inform people of different ways they can improve their overall health, which aligns with Dherbs’ core values. He received his bachelor’s degree in creative writing from the University of Redlands, graduating summa cum laude. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.
