To be labeled as "natural" according to USDA guidelines, chicken must be minimally processed — meaning that the product has simply been cleaned, cut up, trimmed and packaged. In addition, it should contain no artificial ingredients or color. Some “natural” products may contain solution as long as the ingredients used in the solution are made from natural ingredients. Only products that meet these criteria can display “natural” on the label. See Meat and Poultry Labeling Terms for more information.
All living creatures have hormones in their bodies naturally, including chickens. These hormones regulate many of a chicken's functions similar to the way they do in a human. Because there are naturally occurring hormones in chicken, we cannot state on our label that our chicken is hormone-free.
Our company does not use growth hormones of any kind with our chickens. In fact, federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones in raising chickens.
Most food safety issues related to chicken and other fresh meat arise from bacteria (such as salmonella) common in the digestive tracts of farm animals. These bacteria are easily destroyed by heat. Therefore, proper cooking of poultry virtually eliminates the risk of these potentially harmful bacteria. See the CHICKEN BASICS section of our FAQs for safe handling, thawing and storing advice for chicken to ensure safety from the grocery store cart to those leftovers in your refrigerator.
Avian Influenza is a common disease that occurs in chickens. Gold'n Plump takes avian influenza very seriously, and has been successfully protecting its flocks from this, and other illnesses, since the first cases surfaced more than 20 years ago. It is something the poultry industry in the U.S. has been dealing with effectively for many years.
Although we do not test for gluten-free certification, our all natural line of products do not contain added ingredients and are therefore naturally gluten-free. More details on ingredients for our products can be found within the Products section of this website.
Gold'n Plump® all natural line of fresh chicken products does not contain any additives, including solutions. Anything labeled under the all natural label does not contain any allergens.
However, it's important to note that supermarkets and/or delis may occasionally add their own ingredients to prepared chicken, such as seasoning or breading. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you check the label or talk to the meat or deli department manager for more information.
More information on ingredients can be found within the Products section of this website.
Our chickens are raised with the utmost care by experts in animal science, nutrition and rearing. They are cared for by independent family farm partners who are required to participate in Gold'n Plump's active grower management program, overseen by veterinarians to ensure bird health and comfort.
