| Free range and organic meat and poultry are | | | | for example chickens and turkeys. Free range simply |
| supposed to be better for you as well as taste better, | | | | means that the birds have some access to the |
| but do you honestly know what the difference | | | | outdoors. There are no USDA requirements as to the |
| between the two is? I though I did, or at least would be | | | | size of the yard or its cleanliness or if the birds actually |
| close, but I looked it up and I was somewhat surprised. | | | | have to use it. |
| Organic means it meets the requirements of the | | | | It's pretty obvious from the above descriptions that |
| Organic Food Production Act of 1990. The meat and | | | | organic is better than free range. For example a |
| poultry needs to have been fed certified organic feed | | | | chicken could be labeled free range if it had access to |
| since birth. So what qualifies as organic feed then? | | | | a junkyard and was pumped full of antibiotics and |
| Organic feed is grain and soybeans grown in soil that | | | | other drugs! |
| has been pesticide and chemical fertilizer free for | | | | What is most important is not the label, but the source. |
| three years minimum. Also the animals and poultry | | | | I try to obtain my meat and poultry from trusted and |
| need access to the outdoors and no antibiotics or | | | | local sources. For example I get lamb from the farm |
| drugs can be used on them. | | | | down the street. I know they do a good and humane |
| The term free range is commonly applied to poultry, | | | | job. |