| Many people choose chicken over pork and beef, | | | | Government researchers say that arsenic levels in |
| because it is cheaper and, according to them, | | | | young chickens may be up to four times greater |
| healthier. When the first statement might be true, | | | | than in other poultry and meat. |
| the second one is a deception. Unless you buy | | | | According to Marian Burros from the New York |
| organic chicken. | | | | Times, arsenic is deliberately being added to |
| Do you know what is commonly used in | | | | chicken in this country, with many scientists |
| conventional chicken feed? Arsenic, which is | | | | saying it is unnecessary. Many experts say that |
| known best as a deadly poison. Prolonged | | | | no amount of arsenic is safe, but the chicken |
| exposure to arsenic is linked to certain forms of | | | | industry stubbornly denies it and continues using |
| cancer, type 2 diabetes, liver disease, heart | | | | this dangerous poison in chicken feed. |
| disease and many other problems. According to a | | | | Some chicken producers, such as Tyson Foods, |
| recent study, the children of women who are | | | | stopped using arsenic, but most of the producers |
| exposed to arsenic during pregnancy, may be at | | | | haven't. |
| an increased risk of cancer later in life. Exposure | | | | So what do you do to make sure you don't |
| to large quantities of arsenic causes immediate | | | | poison yourself and your family? Buying organic |
| death. | | | | chicken is always the safest choice. If you can't |
| Then why is it used to feed chicken? Simply to | | | | afford to buy organic, look for chicken with |
| ward off parasites and therefore, increase profits. | | | | "antibiotic-free" labels, because these also don't |
| It certainly helps the farmers, but how about us, | | | | contain arsenic. |
| consumers? | | | | |