Washingtonians

[Chicken Rustler]

Immmmm BACK !!!!!! May not have much spare time to spend on here for a while. I have several things going that are keeping me WAYYY too busy. But Immmm back and not about to try to read back to catch up on everything. So if there has been anything important happen would somebody please fill me in.

 

[justbugged]

Quote:
I could tell you where a few new coops are but I don't think so.

I am glad you're back. It isn't easy being the old timer here.

 

[Greg Richardson]

Chicken producers debate 'natural' label

By JULIANA BARBASSA

Associated Press Writer



SAN FRANCISCO —
A disagreement among poultry producers about whether chicken injected with salt, water and other ingredients can be promoted as "natural" has prompted federal officials to consider changing labeling guidelines.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture had maintained that if chicken wasn't flavored artificially or preserved with chemicals, it could carry the word "natural" on the package.

But the agency agreed to take another look at its policy after some producers, politicians and health advocates noted that about one-third of chicken sold in the U.S. was injected with additives that could represent up to 15 percent of the meat's weight, doubling or tripling its sodium content. Some argue that could mislead or potentially harm consumers who must limit their salt intake.

The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service plans to issue new proposed rules this fall.

Perdue, the nation's third largest poultry producer, is among those pushing for a change. The company has joined a group called the Truthful Labeling Coalition, which has hired a lobbyist and launched an advertising campaign.

"Our labels say natural or all natural only if there is nothing added," Perdue spokesman Luis Luna said. "Under no circumstances is it acceptable to label poultry that has been enhanced with water or broth or solutions as natural, or all natural."

Such mixtures are injected into poultry to make the meat tastier and more tender.

The two largest chicken processors, Pilgrim's Pride and Tyson Foods, are among those that affix "natural" labels to chicken injected with extra salt and water. Industry experts said the practice has become more common in the past decade.

Tyson spokesman Gary Mickelson said the company sponsored a national study that found most consumer didn't mind those labels if the ingredients added were deemed natural.

Gary Rhodes, a spokesman for Pilgrim's Pride, said the company simply wanted to offer its customers a choice.

"We offer both 100 percent natural enhanced and non-enhanced fresh chicken," Rhodes said. "It really depends on what the customer wants. It's all about choice."

But Bill Mattos, president of the California Poultry Federation, argued that current labeling rules leave consumers confused. He said the industry needs to work harder at being clear about its products.


"With all the talk about food now, all the interest in salt, the chicken industry needs to be very upfront about these issues, and be very truthful," said Mattos.

A buyer perusing the chicken counter at a San Francisco supermarket agreed.

Muembo Muanza, 30, said he read the label and considered the price but never thought to check the salt content when buying fresh chicken.

Most people buying fresh, unprocessed food will assume, like he did, that nothing is added, said Muanza, whose family has a history of high blood pressure, a condition that can be worsened by high salt intake.

"If it says natural, I expect it to be all natural - nothing but chicken," he said.

California Sen. Barbara Boxer weighed in on the issue earlier this year, calling in a press conference for the USDA to "immediately prevent sodium injected chicken from using the 'natural' label and require all poultry producers to identify added ingredients in print large enough to ensure that consumers can make informed choices."

The issue is worrisome because Americans generally eat far too much salt, with serious health consequences, said Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, a researcher at the University of California, San Francisco.

Her research, published this year in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that regulations aimed at cutting back Americans' sodium intake could save $10 billion to $24 billion in health care costs, and thousands of lives, every year.

Government intervention is needed, Bibbins-Domingo said, because much of the salt people eat comes in prepared food, not out of a salt shaker.

"We have to educate people to read labels and make better choices," she said. "When there are foods that people consider to be fresh and without additives, and they also have salt added, you feel you are almost fighting a losing battle."

In a report issued this year, the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, which advises the federal government, revised the recommended daily salt intake from a teaspoon a day to about two-thirds of a teaspoon. It pointed to meat with added salt as a particular problem.

Foster Farms, based in Livingston, Calif., has been at the forefront of the campaign to change labeling rules.

The company sells marinated products that have added salt - but it is clear to consumers, said company spokesman Ira Brill. The problem with injection is the customer can't tell what's in their chicken.

"One of the issues we face as a nation is how to eat healthy," Brill said. "To the degree you like salt, you should be able to add it. But you should be able to make that decision for yourself. "

 

[LaSombra]

Quote:
That is awesome work on that hat!! I haven't even attempted fair isle. No way! I don't even like to change colors

I like to do more cables, though, and some people hate those so I guess we all have our niche

cake decorating: do you know about cakecentral.com? it's the byc of cake decorating

 

[NWChicks]

Thanks LaSombra! I love doing cables too. I've got a bunch of lace weight yarn and several patterns to try some lace knitting. I just haven't yet because I'm afraid I'll get distracted and mess it all up. I do intend to use some lifelines in case that happens! Do you do ravelry.com?

I've been on cakecentral for about 3 years and I love it! When I did my first wedding cake I found them and the people on that site were a life saver!

Ravelry, BYC and cakecentral are the three forums I frequent most.

 

[LaSombra]

Quote:
I haven't heard of ravelry... will have to check it out

My sn on cakecentral is also LaSombra so if you see me there, you'll know who I am

lace, I haven't tried much of it, but I did make a lace scarf thing for my grandma on her birthday a couple years ago. I didn't use the light yarn, though, just used regular yard since it was my first time. I'd like to make something lacy out of crochet, though. I love crochet lace.

 

[NWChicks]

Quote:
On ravelry I'm knittnponder and cakecentral I'm franluvsfrosting.

I love Ravelry's search features! You can search by yarn, yarn weight, pattern, crochet or knit, free or paid and all kinds of other filters! I put all the knitting books, patterns, magazine, booklets, etc in my library and if I ever want to search the patterns I already have here at home I can do it by looking online instead of pulling out all my books and thumbing through them. Then I know exactly which book to find my pattern in. It's the BYC of knitting!

 

[LaSombra]

Quote:
On ravelry I'm knittnponder and cakecentral I'm franluvsfrosting.

I love Ravelry's search features! You can search by yarn, yarn weight, pattern, crochet or knit, free or paid and all kinds of other filters! I put all the knitting books, patterns, magazine, booklets, etc in my library and if I ever want to search the patterns I already have here at home I can do it by looking online instead of pulling out all my books and thumbing through them. Then I know exactly which book to find my pattern in. It's the BYC of knitting!

I'm checking it out now

My sn there is, of course, LaSombra. I just use that sn everywhere

So far, I'm very impressed. I've already saved some chicken patterns

Thanks for suggesting it!

 

[ultasol]

Boy, this is my month for travel! I'm making a jaunt to Portland and can bring black or white silkies, or white showgirls, juvies, late april/ early may hatch for those interested. I have both Pet Quality (very fluffy, look great, but either have four toes or have a couple miscolored feathers) and a few show potential birds. The showgirls I have available are just amazingly nice, super fluffy, not second or third generation birds but from a well established line.

If anyone is interested and wants to meet in Oregon City, let me know.


Now is the time to start conditioning your young birds for the fall shows. I just trimmed all beaks and toenails, pulled some broken feathers, on all the juvies.

 

[jbear]

all four of these guys are available.. the frizzle cochin roo will be 3 months old Sept 1, I can keep him till then...

The Hoodlums are available right now! They are 3 month old Serama Roosters, calico-ish coloring. Flashy boys. I just can't have all these roosters! PM or e mail me if you interested in any of them.

Will consider delivery within reason...