*I traveled to Tyson Headquarters as an invited guest. All opinions are my own and no content was required in exchange for the trip. The post was not reviewed prior to posting.**
#Tyson
Last week I got to do something that I was seriously hesitant about. But I am so glad I did it and came out with a knowledge I think few laypersons get to have. I got to visit a farm where 300,000 chickens are raised by a mom and pop business for the benefit of Tyson Foods. I also got to tour their state of the art Safety Lab, walk through a Cornish Hen factory and ask any question I wanted without worry that something would be off limits. In fact, the depth of details that they allowed me and two other bloggers to get into was truly impressive. If you know me at all, I was not shy. To help me aid in getting to the absolute truth about Tyson Foods, large corporations as a whole and the safety of the food that we put on our tables, I asked readers to ask questions too.
Time after time I drilled everyone from Shannon and Melissa Fancher, the farmers, to BJ Bench in the Tyson Food Safety Lab to anyone who would listen about the treatment of the animals, any hormones or antibiotics added to any part of the process to their stance on GMO’s and any other buzzword I could think of. Time after time my questions were not only answered, but evidence from articles not in house and more were given to expose the real truth.
So, I thought I would share with your the top 5 myths about the chicken industry that was debunked by real people, real evidence and real conversation on my trip.
No Chicken in the United States in Injected with Hormones
In the 1970’s, it became ILLEGAL to add hormones to any part of the chicken process. In fact, it is now so regulated and the process of hatching and raising chickens so monitored and open to the USDA and food safety groups that there is virtually no way for hormones to get into any of the stock. The Food Safety Lab at Tyson is so state of the art and so sensitive to anything unnatural in foods that other companies, competitors even, use their labs to test their own foods for bacteria, hormones and more. So rest assured. The ‘hormones’ buzzword, at least in the chicken industry is just that. A result of not enough education about how mass foods are raised and produced and brought to market for us to enjoy.
They Do NOT Regularly Give Chickens Antibiotics
I asked Melissa Fancher flat out about antibiotics in the chicken industry. Their family owned Amariah Farms is the love and labor of her, her husband Shannon and their three daughters. One other person works on this farm which spams 164 acres in beautiful, majestic Springdale, AR. She is a college education, animal health veterinarian and he is a college educated, raised on an operating farm, lover of family. Both worked at Tyson Foods for 18 years before taking a break and then coming back to Tyson Foods to start their farm 3 years ago.
I made eye contact with Melissa and flat out asked her about antibiotics. She did not flinch, she did not stutter, she simply stated the facts. Because the birds on their farms are only there for about 52 days, they do not have time to need antibiotics. At 52 days they are at the size that Tyson Foods wants and they are taken from the farm to be processed. She did say that if she ever had to administer antibiotics – which she had not – the birds would be separated and, just as it leaves the human body, the bird would not be processed until the antibiotic were totally out of their blood stream. So it is highly unlikely any chicken you buy ever had antibiotics anywhere near it and, if that rarity happens, it is gone before it even goes to the factory.
Read more about Antibiotics in the chicken industry.
Genetically Bred Chickens are Totally Natural
As a general knowledge of genetically ‘altered’ things, I was really interested in this. People have an issue with the fact that animals are ‘genetically’ altered to be larger or produce a more consumer friendly product. The truth is, most things are genetically altered. We breed certain dogs together to get Cockapoodles, breed plants together to get 80 types of lettuce and even breed with each other to create the kids we have that are unique to us. The same is done to chickens. No hormones or chemicals are introduced to make a chicken grow larger. They simple breed two together that produce the offspring that are needed to provide what the consumer wants. In America, we want larger breasts. In Asia, they want thicker thighs. None of it is out of nature or anything new to anyone who understand that mixed genes provides different offspring. It made total sense to me and I, personally, saw nothing wrong with it at all.
Read about GMO’s and what they really are on the Tyson Foods informational page.
Big Corporations are NOT Killing Family Farms
Family farms may be suffering because it is hard work and being a farmer is a 24/7, 365 job. It is true labor all day, every day. But Tyson Foods relies on family farms only for their stock. There are no ‘factory’ farms that they have any relationship with and my trip to the Fancher farm was proof. This is a family that decided to go into raising chickens because they wanted to be home, as a family, without dad having to be gone 12 hours a day working and sitting in traffic. They are a family unit living a lifestyle that they see as the most beneficial to their family. It is hard work and they do have their days, but overall, working on this farm has been a wonderful thing for their family.
About 4- 6 times a year, Tyson Foods shows up with their chicks. They release the 300,000 chicks into air conditioned, automated, technologically advanced houses that span the length of a few football fields. I believe they have 8 or 10 houses on their land and each one is built for the comfort of the chickens. In fact, Tyson comes out to make sure they are taking the best care of the stock as possible.
If the farmer needs anything or has an issue, Tyson calls a meeting with them and the farmer to work it out. Melissa Fancher described how easy it actually is to work with this ‘corporation’.
The feed, which was developed of the best ingredients and tested in Tyson’s labs, is provided. The Fancher’s check the chickens, who run around totally free, sprinklers misting them every little while (which they LOVE – you should have heard them squawk and flap around), in these large houses, are fed on a schedule, watered on a schedule and have free reign to roam and be as free as you and me. They get a 2-3 week break between flocks to rest, clean up and get ready for the new chicks.
The Chickens are Raised in a LARGE, Open, Safe Environment
The ‘cage-free’ buzzword is huge right now. And I can understand it from an egg laying hen aspect. But chickens raised for food never get to egg laying age and they have all of the freedom to roam as a ‘free range’ one without the dangers.
They are in a house, as opposed to in the open, to protect them from predators, the weather (it hails a lot in Arkansas), and to make sure each and every chicken gets enough food and water. It also preserves the health of the birds. There is not a cage in site in any of these houses. I stood, doors wide open for well over 15 minutes watching the chickens and not one tried to escape. OK, so that is a joke, but I was truly impressed with how much room they have. I also noticed that the saying ‘Birds of a feather flock together’ was true as you would see packs of birds hanging out closely with each other.
I saw these birds, who were about 28 days old at the time, I think, running around, jumping over the low to the ground water lines, pecking at the food on the ground and chasing each other around. None seemed in distress and, in fact, they live a better life than my dogs. They have to poop outside!
Now listen, no one is perfect. Improvements always need to be made in any industry and any company on this planet. That is why there are regulatory groups and people who are asking question after question.
But as I walked the parts of the Tyson Foods business, watching the USDA sitting next to Tyson employees inspecting in three different phases of production, and I saw the million dollar machines in the state of the art labs that can detect the smallest of organisms and met the people that are just like you and me, I was impressed. Family oriented and wanting to give their families the best of the best. The safest of the safest and the healthiest of the healthiest, my opinion started to change. My mind opened up to the truth and my confidence level in the natural safeness of my foods skyrocketed!
What else would you like to know? I can ask Tyson directly and get you an answer!
I really had no idea about any of that, so this was really informative for me.
I am glad! It was an eye opening trip1
What about the killing process for both unwanted roosters and when travelling to the packaging – I have seen numerous videos where companies should be ashamed of themselves.
I’m sure you’ll get the typical comments about the horrors of how animals are treated, etc. etc., but let’s face it. – we’re meat eaters. What do they expect us to do, eat them alive?
LOL- very true Scott. Everyone is entitled to express an opinion. But with the food demand out there, it is hard to please everyone. We can’t do everything perfectly for everyone, no matter the business. I am just glad some companies really try.
This is an eye opening post. I’ve never really thought about where my “food” came from before.
Thank you!
What a fun and eyeopening trip! It’s nice to know to know that the chickens are raised in safe environments.
Thank you!
Impressive information. I appreciate that they fully opened their doors and no questions were off the table.
I didn’t realize that it’s illegal to inject chickens with hormones in the U.S. That’s good to know. I like Tyson. I just bought a bag of their chicken this afternoon when I ran errands.
Wow, who would have known Tyson had chemists! Awesome visit to see behind the scenes.
I had heard a lot about antibiotic free chicken. I’m glad that all of my chicken is “antibiotic free,” this was a very informative post!
You know this is good to know! You hear so many things and people go with it. I love to hear what the truth is! I love chicken and Tyson is one of the only brands we buy from because it is always great quality!
It’s always nice to get info right from the source. I buy Tyson only and don’t plan on changing that.
I love Tyson chicken. It’s the best tasting chicken on the market, in my opinion.
I agree :)
Thank you Janel!
This post blew my mind. So much information debunked. Thanks for sharing!
You are so welcome!
Oh my goodness… so much great information… I had no clue. I often wonder how much is true when people go on tyrants about how they feel… Thanks for the post.
Thank you so much!
Wow. I never knew any of this. I’ve always had an image of dirty, crowded, unhealthy conditions when I thought of chicken farms. I’m glad to know I was wrong!
Me too! i would have reported that if I saw it too!
Thank you so much for this. I worry about the environment of the chickens… so much so that I have stopped eating chicken as much as I used to. It is grew tot know that they are treated well.
Yes, they are. They are calm and stress free. Actually, when chickens are stressed, they have tougher meat. So juicy emats mean they were happy little birds. LOL
What a great trip! Tyson has great products! Thanks for this post and telling us a bit more about the company!
You are so welcome!
oh wow what a great post. I thought us it was organic it was injected with hormones. That is great that you asked these questions, glad you did!
Thank you so much!! Nope, no hormones anywhere in the market
I knew we loved Tyson for a reason! I’m glad you got the chance to go and share!
Thank you!
What a interesting trip. I don’t blame you for being hesitant to go. I would be to. Thanks for a informative post.
You are so welcome and I am so glad I did!
How did I not know that it was illegal to inject chicken with hormones in the US? Hmmm, seems like I know some companies that profit off that not being so well known. Thanks for the eye opening facts, Tyson!
I wonder who? It is so regulated that it would be very hard. Besides, can you imagine how long it would take to inject 300,000 chickens? LOL There is no technology for that :)
Or in a barn of even 100 chickens you do 1st, 2nd, 3rd…err which was done and which not? :-)
Exactly! It just does not happen
I think I would have been interested in this trip. Thanks for sharing all these helpful details on what goes on behind the scenes.
You are so welcome!
I think this would have been such an interesting place to visit! Going in with preconceived notion, it would have been really interesting learning first hand what’s real and what’s hype!
It was truly eye opening!
I’m glad you really drilled them. I would have been very reticent to go, so I’m glad you were honest in saying you were hesitant too.
Yep – but I am so glad I went!
So glad you went. I had this idea of awful conditions there. And I did the wrong thing about it – just tried not to think about it!
I was actually expecting it to be a bad experience. But I could not believe how incredibly clean everything was! Even the chicken houses!
I challenge any of you to actually google Tyson Foods and antibiotics & how/when injections actually take place (it’s not at the family farms or in the barns, but as baby chickens before arriving to the family farms where they will grow). This article is not the complete truth – maybe what Tyson SAID during the tour – but not complete truth. Research for yourself instead of believing an article from a pre-planned tour.
http://www.mercyforanimals.org/look-what-the-meat-industry-has-done-to-chickens
Thanks for sharing the article. However, like everything, I believe that there are 50 sides to every story and then the truth. I was recently a speaker at the Beef Council Annual meeting and antibiotics were talked about. It is actually illegal for the food industry to allow an animal to suffer rather than to give them antibiotics to make them well. Not all cattle/ chickens that have received them are put on the market, depending on what they are giving them for. But if an animal is not sick, they are not haphazardly given just to do it, That is my educated understanding from talking to many sources in the industry and the scientists that monitor the industry. But again, this article was to start a conversation so it is just a piece of the whole truth. .
Having something be illegal is hardly the same as it not being done. Just because something is illegal does not mean no one still commits the crime. Have you heard of drug dealers? Clearly drugs are illegal but that doesn’t seem to stop people does it? I find it ridiculously that that is one of your points to clear up Tyson Food’s name. They can still be antibiotics behind closed doors. It is not like the USDA is watching their every move and has cameras set up in their farms.
You also give wayyyy too much credit to the USDA and FDA. It is really impossible for them to regulate all the chemicals in food and products because there is a HUGE amount of chemicals that need to be tested. Also, the inspectors have to give companies notice before inspection because they have to set up a time for it. If you haven’t cleaned your room in months and your mom lets you know a week in advance she’ll be coming to inspect your room- you have a week to get rid of all your dirty laundry as opposed to unannounced inspection.
Breeding is not the issue. Chickens are often injected with antibiotics to make them grow at an alarming rate. A normal chicken raised without anything takes 24 weeks to mature. Tyson Foods ships their chicken out in 52 days- a chicken that grows at that alarming rate without antibiotics? Hard to believe.
Are you also going to forgo interviews that have been conducted with Tyson food workers that admit to wearing diapers because they get no bathroom breaks? If you are constructing a whole “debunking the myth” blog post based on interviews- you should really go interview past workers. Or I can supply you with a ton of articles that have these interviews already conducted. These workers, in order to avoid soiling themselves, wear diapers to work. They get half an hour lunch break on a 10 hour schedule. Many of them do not get bathroom breaks because that cuts into the processing time of chicken. So many of these workers sustain injuries from working with heavy machinery. They are subjected to respiratory complications due to the tight quarters and confines of their working environment. And the worse thing of all is that they still have to work in these locations because they desperately need the money. If you are going to base your points on interviews from biased views from said companies- you must take these worker’s interviews into account. It’s only fair.
I am not sure if Tyson Foods is compensating you in some way or form- you can deny it, it’s fine. Though it’s clear that you have dedicated a number of post to advertising for Tyson Foods so there must be something behind this blog post littered with nonsense. I just hate to know that such a biased blog post is out there providing information with no grounds and no proof except word of mouth. When there have been so many studies and research done on Tyson Foods and all the legal issues that has surfaced. You cannot simple negate all those findings with a simple “A Tyson Food representative said they don’t do this so it must be true”.
While I do appreciate your comments and do understand your passion, I can only write about what I know as a first hand experience from my visit to the plants and farms. I saw nothing that would indicate abuse of animals, and I have four dogs and really looked, the people working for them or any other slight that would cause alarm. I was given full access to see and write about anything I wanted. I went in a skeptic and came out understanding the immensely large responsibility of feeding so many people in such a controversial industry. May I add that I also work with the Beef Council and have a real interest in learning the truth.
I fully hear what you are saying and your comment leads me to ask more questions and to research further as I never want to mislead anyone on any topic. Please know every word has been read and your concerns are definitely part of the important dialogue that any company needs to see to provide the most up front, honest and transparent views of any manufacturer!