ADDRESSING MYTHS AND RUMORS REGARDING CHICKEN MEAT & EGG

May 11, 2023

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ADDRESSING MYTHS AND RUMORS REGARDING CHICKEN MEAT & EGG

India has always been known as the country which is evolving one step at a time across various verticals, including the poultry industry. Meat is known to have a significant amount of protein and specific vitamins which not only help fulfill our body requirements but also tend to shield it, providing us with a safe cover while bolstering our immunity. However, one can also observe there to be a lot of misconceptions and myths about poultry. The air needs to be cleared of any rumours that are there.

There have been several myths surrounding meat and chicken consumption. Here’s a fact-checking on some of the most popular myths.

Prof. Dr. Ajit Ranade, Associate Dean at Mumbai Veterinary College, Maharashtra Animal & Fishery Sciences University, addressed the on-going myths around poultry, henceforth listing the actual facts about it, which are as follows:

Myth: Chicken contains antibiotic residues-cause resistance against antibiotics used in humans

Fact: Certain types of ‘approved’ antibiotics are used in chicken feeding, but mainly as a prophylactic preventive measure against a fatal disease in the chickens. Additionally, the use of antibiotics is stopped 7-10 days before slaughter to allow time for them to be removed naturally by the bird. Hence chances of the residue coming in the chicken are way too minimal.

Myth: Eating eggs raise cholesterol levels

Fact: Dietary cholesterol content from egg and chicken does not affect the amount of cholesterol in the body. The human body requires a minimum of 1gm of cholesterol every day. Eggs contain around 180-220 mg cholesterol that is relatively in a small amount. One large egg contains only about 1.5 grams of saturated fat which is in fact a rich source of 13 vitamins and minerals.

Myth: Chickens are genetically produced

Fact: Chickens are not genetically engineered or modified i.e. no artificial changes are made to the genetic make-up of an organism in order to optimise a trait. They are selectively bred for positive traits, in a similar way like other animals have been for thousands of years. This is a natural method of optimising a breed’s traits.

Myth: Poultry must not be consumed in summers because it will increase the heat in the body

Fact: Heat increment in the body is related to the calorific value of the food item. Any fat source is the highest source of calories. Foods like chocolates, fries, cheese etc. have more heat increment during the digestion and metabolism. Hence any food having more calories than egg or chicken will increase the heat in the body.

Myth: All saturated fats raise blood cholesterol

Fact: Saturated fat is not harmful to the body, instead we need it. Cholesterol in poultry is not dangerous; instead, that is what the body needs. Stearic acid, a type of saturated fat found naturally in poultry meat boosts beneficial HDL cholesterol levels.

Myth: Organic food is far more nutritious than conventional food

Fact: Organic foods are a good option for consumption; however, they do not have the required nutritional value as compared to poultry items. Nutritional value in eggs and chicken remains high irrespective of them being produced organically or inorganically. Thus, there is no significant difference that exists between conventional and organic crops and livestock or one being higher in protein content than the other.

Myth: Plastic eggs making their way through the market

Fact: The rumour of plastic eggs being circulated in the market is false; they do not exist. The shell membrane of the eggs which is the normal portion when becomes stale is being claimed to be made of plastic which is not the case.

Myth: Consumption of eggs and poultry meat leads to cardiovascular disease with the presence of Advanced Glycation End Parts (AGE)

Fact: Eggs and poultry meat do not contain inherent AGE. The AGE‘s are formed due to certain forms of cooking and processing. The use of low AGE generating cooking methods traditionally practiced in India like boiling, stewing, use of acidic marinades like lemon juice are helpful. Also with less consumption of eggs and poultry in India as compared to other international countries, it is not harmful to consume it in moderation and hence will not lead to any kind of cardiovascular disease.

Myth: Consumption of poultry meat can lead to COVID-19 infection in humans

Fact: There is no evidence of consumption of poultry leading to the spread of coronavirus as quoted by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) CEO, G S G Ayyangar, and also by Dr Praveen Malik, Animal Husbandry Commissioner. It is a misconception amongst people of relating poultry meat as a cause of the spreading of COVID-19 disease. Rather, it has been established that chicken or any other bird does not get infected with this infection. Hence with no confirmed evidence of the spread of coronavirus disease through animal origin products like chicken or eggs, it is completely safe to consume them.

Therefore it is always advisable to do thorough research and get the facts checked from the experts before believing the rumours and relying on the grapevine discussions. Teaming with many health benefits and being one of the primary sources of protein, poultry meat is advised for regular consumption. The intent here is to nourish our bodies with nutritionally healthy food without baseless fears and misconceptions!

Heard too many myths associated with chicken?

Planning to switch to other protein sources?

Let’s put this straight: chicken and eggs fulfill some of the most essential dietary requirements of a person; in fact, they improve bone density, muscle strength, eyesight and have even been said to have assisted many in their quest for weight management.

Since eggs and chicken are rich sources of protein, the two can actually make us feel fuller, which prevents us from over-eating, thereby helping in weight loss.

There are all kinds of crazy myths around chicken and eggs, ranging from how they might cause infertility to serious health ailments, and so we are debunking five of the most common ones here.

Let’s go:

Myth 01: All broiler chicken and eggs are bad for health

It is commonly believed that all broiler chicken is harmful to health and can lead to diseases like hypertension, obesity, cancer, etc. Some even claim that consuming chicken is worse than smoking cigarettes these days.

However, this assumption is based on the myth that broiler chicken is artificially injected and given feed mixed with hormones.

What most people miss out on is that chicken bred on organic, plant-based feed is actually quite healthy for consumption and is a nutritious source of proteins, vitamin D and amino acids.

Fun Fact: some studies even claim that consuming chicken can increase serotonin levels in our bodies.

No wonder we are always looking forward to our serving of grilled chicken!

Myth 02: Egg yolks can increase cholesterol

For decades, this idea has been propagated by researchers and common people alike; the fact is, it’s 2021 and now is finally time to move on from this largely popularised myth.

Let’s first address the elephant in the room: are egg yolks rich in cholesterol? Yes, two large whole eggs (100 grams) contain approximately 411 mg of cholesterol.

But does that mean they increase cholesterol in our bodies? Absolutely not!

The human body is exceptionally well-coordinated. The liver naturally produces cholesterol according to a person’s bodily requirements; however, when we consume higher levels of cholesterol through food sources, like eggs, the liver decreases its production, thereby balancing the overall cholesterol levels in the body.

So as long as you are eating proteins, especially egg-based, in moderated quantities, you are going to be okay.

Also, keep in mind that cholesterol isn’t bad for you. Infact It is involved in the production of vitamin D, steroid hormones, like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, bile acids, which help digest fat, and is an essential component of every cell membrane in our bodies.

Myth 03: Boiled eggs are healthier than fried ones

We are so tired of hearing this one over and over again.

Here’s what actually happens:

Boiled or poached eggs do not require butter or oil for cooking and by virtue of that have slightly fewer calories.

However, fried eggs are in no way worse; what’s important is the temperature you are cooking your eggs at.

Instead of cooking for long hours at high temperatures, try to cook the egg for a shorter period at medium heat for maximum health benefits.

More importantly, if you are frying the egg at high temperatures, avoid using extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil which oxidises cholesterol in eggs and releases harmful free radicals.

Instead, it is advised that you cook eggs on medium heat or choose avocado oil and sunflower oil.

Myth 04: All chicken gets injected which causes hormonal imbalance for some people

Going by what experts say: Kate Barger, veterinarian and Director World Animal Welfare at Cobb‑Vantress, a global primary breeder company dedicated to the development and production of broiler breeder genetics, says, “I don’t know what would happen if you actually did put hormones in a chicken. It doesn’t make sense. Yesterday, we saw a house with 20,000 chickens in it. You’d have to pick up each one of those chickens, twice a day, to inject each one to make them grow.”

She added, “Not only would the process of injecting hormones in poultry represent added cost anytime you pick up a chicken, but it’s also a potentially stressful moment for the bird and would likely hurt flock performance”.

Broiler chicken is larger because, over the course of several decades, scientists have been selectively cross-breeding chickens to increase growth and meat production and decrease the development time of chickens.

Hence, it’s not the impact of hormones but years of scientific research that has produced larger, faster-growing birds.

Myth 05: Red meat is better than chicken

Here’s a no-brainer: white meat or chicken actually has lesser saturated fats and calories as compared to red meat.

Chicken is not only safe for consumption but is recommended by most dieticians and nutritionists in advised amounts due to its rich health benefits.

What’s probably more harmful is building a diet that is heavy on chicken wings oozing with cheese all the time. Though we wouldn’t mind that at all.

So the next time you are at a family gathering and someone points out how you shouldn’t have too much chicken, you now know how to fight your case.