November 3rd, 2010

This Thanksgiving you’ll be confronted with dozens of claims and selling points about turkeys.
Most of these labels have some specific meaning. But it’s not always what you think. A “USDA certified Organic,” turkey, for instance, has been raised and processed according to reams of enforceable rules. Producers earn the Organic certification by meeting government requirements for how their livestock is fed, kept and processed.

But even though Organic turkeys must be fed organic grains and be allowed “exercise, (and) freedom of movement” — that doesn’t mean they had a fairytale existence. Organic doesn’t equate to “humane.” These birds may have never seen much sunlight or foraged for food like their ancestors.

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