Meat, Poultry and Eggs Key Terms

Get familiar with meat, poultry and eggs by understanding important key terms

Meat, poultry and eggs are a major part of the protein food group. At the top of the food pyramid, proteins keep our bodies moving by giving us energy. They also come with their own set of specific terms. Raising meat and poultry for meat or eggs necessitates an understanding of the farming industry. Animal care and human health concerns must be considered. Refer to meat, poultry and eggs key terms to get familiar with important industry topics.

 

Foodborne illness

A foodborne illness is any disease caused by bacteria on the food surface or improper handling of the food. Salmonella and E. coli are two foodborne illnesses that plague the reputation of meat, poultry and eggs.
Try: Visit Diet Health to explore foodborne illnesses associated with various foods. The Food Safety and Inspection Service shares how meat, poultry and eggs are regulated to prevent foodborne illness.

Free range, free roaming, cage free

Free range, free roaming and cage free are terms referring to the confined conditions in which poultry is raised. Though the terms sound like unrestricted raising conditions, the regulations behind each one only require short amounts of outdoor or uncaged exposure.
Try: Visit Gather for differentiating information on each type of raising style.

Irradiation

Irradiation is the use of x-ray or radiation technology on certain foods, especially meat and poultry, to remove bacteria.
Try: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides information about food irradiation, including what foods can and cannot be irradiated. The College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences at the University of Michigan supplies a variety of resources on irradiation.

Omega 3 enriched eggs

Omega 3 enriched eggs are eggs with a higher level of polyunsaturated fat, due to increased Omega 3 in the diet of the chickens.
Try: The Egg Farmers of Canada provide details on Omega 3 enriched eggs and their benefits.

Pastured poultry

Pastured poultry is a poultry farming technique in which the birds live and roam in open pasture instead of in a caged environment.
Try: The American Pastured Poultry Producers' Association is an authority on pastured poultry, providing an explanation of the technique and a guide on the logistics of raising pastured poultry.

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA)

Conjugated Linoleic Acid, or CLA, is a "good" fat found in meat and proteins that has cancer-fighting properties. A natural product, CLA has other health benefits including weight loss and reduction of diabetes onset.
Try: For a more thorough description of CLA, visit Eatwild.

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