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All of this controversy raises a very important question: is
there a better way to feed the masses? Current alternative
techniques of poultry farming include free-range, hormone-free,
vegetarian fed, and organic. Free-range is defined as the
freedom of movement granted to the animal in captivity. In
practice, however, this can only effect the birds that are
physically able to move. Putting a bird too sick and genetically
deformed to move into a field isn’t going to improve anything.
Hormone-free is the absence of injections and treated feed that
may modify the growth and behavior of the animal. Vegetarian
fed refers to a feed lacking in meat, which came about after the
discovery that unsellable chickens were being recycled into the
feed. Chickens are omnivores, though, so vegetarian feed isn’t
ideal, either. Organic refers to the chemical structure of all
products used, meaning all chemicals and feed used in the
production have no inorganic qualities. Though these are steps
in the right direction, they are losing a large majority of their
supporters. Of an informal survey I posted online, roughly 56%
of participants claimed to eat chicken more than twice a week.
60% of participants claimed that they do not pay attention to
labels of hormone-free or free-range. What over 70% of
participants had in common was that price was their main