Green Shopping Guide: What is Free Range Poultry?

When shopping for meat many people find themselves attracted to organic, grass-fed, and free range. All of these labels lead people to believe that the meat item is healthier and that the animals were treated humanely before they were turned into meat. While the organic and grass-fed labels have very tight regulations, free range is an entirely different story.

Before I did some research on what free range actually is, I pictured a couple chickens running around a grassy, open pasture and living happily until they were killed for their meat. And often times I would go to buy chicken and would pay the extra money for free range items. Little did I know that my idea of free range was far from the truth.

The USDA only regulates poultry and poultry items (eggs) as free range and the only regulations that need to be followed is that the birds have access to an outside area. While it seems like a great regulation, problems arise with what they leave out. The USDA doesn't say how long the birds have to be outside, how large the area has to be, or what kind of land cover it has to be. In actuality, chickens can be allowed to spend an hour a day outside on a 7 foot by 7 foot gravel or dirt ground and then be stuck inside cramped cages for the other 23 hours. Even if a meat brand gives their poultry these types of outside access they can label their products as free range and most likely will charge more per pound or per egg, even though their products are virtually the same as non free range.

If you really want to purchase meat and eggs that are free range, there are some things you should look for before you pay more per pound or per egg than regular meat. First, since there are so many brands out there that it's hard to just say which brands abide by the minimum standards and which brands fully commit to free range. If you want to find a brand that has truly free range poultry and poultry products you'll need to do some research. Check out the company's website and see what their definition of free range is, including the time spent outside, the size of the space, and the land cover. If a brand doesn't give their definition of free range, it usually means they only abide by the minimum regulations. If in doubt, call or email them. Another thing you can do is shop at stores that are committed to providing humane, organic, and local meat products. A great example is Whole Foods. For companies to sell their product through Whole Foods they have to meet their requirements and provide a good amount of information about their products.

Over all, free range poultry and poultry products can be a great choice but with lax USDA regulations it's important to do your own research in order for you to make a smart buy.