Yes, Sanderson Farms feeds its chickens genetically modified feed….and the company isn’t afraid for consumers to know that!
Sanderson Farms operates its own feed mills so it knows exactly the kind and quality of food being fed to its birds. The chickens are fed a conventional grain diet consisting of corn and soybeans. Because the vast majority of corn and soybeans in the United States are grown from genetically engineered seeds, the feed naturally includes GMOs. But, as the company points out, unlike many organic grains, all of the feed is grown and raised in the United States. Homegrown feed is something the company takes a lot of pride in providing to their flocks so they can support American farmers.
Instead of worrying about things like GMOs, the company does pay attention to things about food that do matter. As monitored by the company’s nutritionist, the chickens are fed a corn and soy-based diet that ensure they get all the protein, energy, vitamins, and minerals needed for optimum health.
For consumers that may be concerned about poultry that has consumed GMO feed, and what that could mean for the end product, Sanderson Farms directs people to the National Chicken Council. The NCC has an FAQ website full of information regarding genetically modified crops and their use as feed for chickens. As NCC points out, there is no nutritional difference between chickens fed a GMO diet and chickens fed a non-GMO diet. Nor are there any food safety concerns. In other words, chickens are substantially the same regardless of whether their diet contains genetically modified grains.
And, of course, there are no genetically modified chickens (just feed!). As Sanderson Farms points out, farmers have mated the healthiest and strongest birds for centuries to create the best offspring possible. That does not mean the birds are “genetically modified,” however. It is simply a traditional breeding practice. Also, despite what you may have heard, chickens are not being bred to have extra wings or legs.
So, consumers can be confident that Sanderson Farms is producing quality chicken products using nutritious feed for healthy birds, and everyone can feel good that the company supports United States farmers using safe production methods.
Disclosure: This post is part of a paid sponsor program with Sanderson Farms. However, as always, the opinions expressed herein are my own.
