Tom Super: Chicken is safer than ever

Re, “Chicken recalls reflect need for processing reform” (Opinions, Aug. 26): Paul Shapiro’s description of poultry production is not based on fact and in no way represents the reality of the health and welfare of today’s chickens. Consumers want to be sure that all animals being raised for food are treated with respect and care during their lives. Farmers and firms involved in raising chickens share this concern.

Because of better nutrition, breeding, veterinary attention and technology, which include optimum conditions within climate-controlled barns, it takes less time for chickens to naturally reach market weight – all without the use of hormones or steroids. All of these factors have led the U.S. national broiler flock to be the healthiest it has ever been and the envy of the world.

Healthy chickens do make safe and wholesome food. Today, Americans will eat about 160 million servings of nutritious chicken, and virtually all of them will be eaten safely.

The industry’s commitment to animal care, tens of millions of dollars in food safety research and continuous USDA inspection can be credited with bringing the prevalence of food-borne bacteria to all-time lows on raw chicken. Shapiro’s case against chicken is nothing more than practiced rhetoric from an animal rights activist.

Tom Super, National Chicken Council,Washington, D.C.

This story was originally published August 28, 2014 at 3:40 PM with the headline "Tom Super: Chicken is safer than ever."