Dangerous levels of arsonic found in chicken.
PRESS RELEASE April 5, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press contact
Ben Lilliston
(612) 870-3416 or
[email protected]Testing of 155 samples from uncooked supermarket chicken products found 55 percent carried detectable arsenic. Arsenic was more than twice as prevalent in conventional brands of supermarket chicken as in certified organic and
other ³premium² brands. All 90 fast food chicken products tested by IATP also contained detectable arsenic. The full report can be read at:
www.iatp.org. ..........
Brand name chicken products tested by IATP included Foster Farms, Trader Joe¹s, Gold¹n Plump, Perdue, Smart Chicken, and Tyson Foods. Fast food chains that had chicken products tested included McDonald¹s, Wendy¹s, Arby¹s, Subway, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Church¹s and Popeyes. Chicken
products were purchased from supermarkets and fast food outlets in Minnesota and California and were analyzed for arsenic by a private, independent commercial laboratory. .......
An estimated 1.7 to 2.2 million pounds of roxarsone, a single arsenic feed additive, are given each year to chickens. Much of this ends up in chicken litter and the broader environment.
Arsenic causes cancer and contributes to other diseases including heart disease, diabetes and declines in intellectual function. ....... Additionally, the latest science reports that some forms of arsenic are more toxic than previously thought, and CUMULATIVE human exposures to arsenic, including in chicken meat, are likely higher than previously thought. .........
The report made several recommendations:
* Consumers should seek out chicken raised without arsenic in its feed, including that sold as USDA-certified organic chicken, under which the practice is prohibited .......
The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy works globally to promote resilient family farms, communities and ecosystems through research and education, science and technology, and advocacy.
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link to www.organicconsumers.org]
United States