• “Fresh” means that the meat has never been frozen (for poultry, freezing temperature is around 26°F, due to dissolved solids in its cells) Of course, some supermarkets keep their stock cases colder than this minimum temperature, and you might find that the bird in the back of the case is frozen solid A good way to determine whether or not the bird has been frozen is to check the packaging: Freezing damages cell structure and can cause interior liquids to leak out If the packaging has lots of juices in it, chances are your bird was frozen Move along • “Cage-Free” birds have been raised in large open barns rather than confined to small cages However, this term does not guarantee they had any access to the outdoors, nor does it guarantee an improved stocking density (the number of chickens housed in a given space) or protection against debeaking, a painful procedure chickens are put through in order to prevent them from injuring each other when kept in close confinement Chances are good that these birds were raised in cramped, crowded conditions • Free-Range or Free-Roaming birds have been raised in large open barns with limited access to the outdoors via a door to an outdoor coop; often this is a single small door in a cavernous barn While they are certainly better off than birds raised in cages, it’s very likely that most “freerange” bids have not actually ever stepped foot outside Even if they have, there’s no guarantee that they’ve seen grass or pasture—that outside space can be dirt, gravel, or even concrete • “Organic” standards for birds are enforced by the government By law, organic birds must be raised on a 100-percent-organic diet, must not be caged, and must have access to pasture and sunlight Antibiotics are not allowed, and the animals must be “treated in a way that reduces stress,” an ambiguous term that’s generally agreed to mean a bit more space and an environment that promotes a few of their natural behaviors, like stretching their wings and enjoying dirt baths The table below summarizes all of this data: The USDA makes no claims that organic foods are ... their natural behaviors, like stretching their wings and enjoying dirt baths The table below summarizes all of this data: The USDA makes no claims that organic foods are ... allowed, and the animals must be “treated in a way that reduces stress,” an ambiguous term that’s generally agreed to mean a bit more space and an environment that promotes a few of their natural