Free range question

[GatorInBama]

How many feet per chicken would be considered free range?

 

[mnferalkitty]

I consder "free range" as no boundries and they get to go where they want no barriers/fence, I consider "cage free" as having space to live and walk around in but still have barriers of sorts like a pen/fence

 

[dreamcatcherarabians]

This is directly from the USDA's site:

You are here: Home / Fact Sheets / Food Labeling / Meat and Poultry Labeling Terms

Meat and Poultry Labeling Terms

"What does 'mechanically separated meat or poultry' mean?"
"If chicken is labeled 'fresh,' how can it be so rock hard?"
"Does 'natural' mean 'raised without hormones'?"

These are just some of the questions consumers have asked USDA's Meat and Poultry Hotline about words which may be descriptive of meat and poultry. Can they be legally used on labels and, if so, what are their definitions?

Here from USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is a glossary of meat and poultry labeling terms. FSIS is the agency responsible for ensuring the truthfulness and accuracy in labeling of meat and poultry products. Knowing the meaning of labeling terms can make purchasing of meat and poultry products less confusing.

• BASTED or SELF BASTED
• CERTIFIED
• CHEMICAL FREE
• FREE RANGE or FREE ROAMING
• FRESH POULTRY
• FROZEN POULTRY
• FRYER-ROASTER TURKEY
• HALAL and ZABIAH HALAL
• HEN or TOM TURKEY
• KOSHER
• "MEAT" DERIVED BY ADVANCED MEAT/BONE SEPARATION AND MEAT RECOVERY SYSTEMS
• MECHANICALLY SEPARATED MEAT
• MECHANICALLY SEPARATED POULTRY
• NATURAL
• NO HORMONES (pork or poultry)
• NO HORMONES (beef)
• NO ANTIBIOTICS (red meat and poultry)
• ORGANIC
• OVEN PREPARED
• YOUNG TURKEY

BASTED or SELF BASTED:
Bone-in poultry products that are injected or marinated with a solution containing butter or other edible fat, broth, stock or water plus spices, flavor enhancers and other approved substances must be labeled as basted or self basted. The maximum added weight of approximately 3% solution before processing is included in the net weight on the label. Label must include a statement identifying the total quantity and common or usual name of all ingredients in the solution, e.g., "Injected with approximately 3% of a solution of ____________ (list of ingredients)."

Use of the terms "basted" or "self-basted" on boneless poultry products is limited to 8% of the weight of the raw poultry before processing.

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CERTIFIED:
The term "certified" implies that the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service and the Agriculture Marketing Service have officially evaluated a meat product for class, grade, or other quality characteristics (e.g., "Certified Angus Beef"). When used under other circumstances, the term must be closely associated with the name of the organization responsible for the "certification" process, e.g., "XYZ Company's Certified Beef."

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CHEMICAL FREE:
The term is not allowed to be used on a label.

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FREE RANGE or FREE ROAMING:
Producers must demonstrate to the Agency that the poultry has been allowed access to the outside.​

 

[Joe.G]

Free range to me is they are free to go were they please.