May 24, 2006
 

US chicken council quells fears of arsenic in chicken

 

 

National Chicken Council (NCC), the trade organization that represents the majority of US broiler production, has dismissed an Institute for Agriculture & Trade Policy (IATP) report, saying that it is not a scientific article.

 

A key finding of the report is that three quarters of the chickens sold in the US contain traces of arsenic and nearly all chickens used in fast food outlets contain the chemical. 

 

The report quoted a federal study of arsenic in drinking water that said even low doses of arsenic increased the likelihood of bladder and lung cancer.

 

It was released in early April at a time when bird flu fears were at its peak.

 

NCC said compounds containing organic arsenic are used to promote good health in poultry flocks and there is no reason to believe there is any health danger to humans.

 

According to NCC, IATP ignored the fact that arsenic is widely distributed in nature and is found in many food products.

 

By focusing specifically on chicken, IATP is producing a document that capitalises on public attention in order to force producers to stop using these safe and effective products, NCC said in its statement.

 

Instead of using a scientific method, IATP sourced for data that would have fit in with its foregone conclusion, NCC said.

 

Arsenic is widely distributed in the Earth's crust and in rock, soil, water and air. It is absorbed by plants, animals and humans. While the inorganic form can be poisonous, the organic form is not harmful, NCC stressed.

 

FDA also sets withdrawal periods to ensure that the products are passed out from the birds' systems before slaughter.

 

The traces of organic arsenic found in broiler meat may have been ingested due to the naturally-occurring arsenic in the feed and water the animals are given, NCC said.