The FDA Admits That Prior to 2011 Over 70% of U.S. Chickens Contained Cancer-Causing Arsenic
Jan 2015
UPDATE: The content stated as recent information in the previous version of this article is inaccurate, as Alphapharma has not made or sold Roxarsone since July 2011.
Prior to 2011, the cancer-causing toxic chemical Roxarsone, which in high doses could kill you, was being added to chicken feed on purpose, giving store-bought chicken the illusion of healthy coloring and plump appearance. Shockingly, this was the case with more than 70 percent of all U.S. chickens! A recent article was published stating that this continued to be the case, however Pfizer no longer manufactures the arsenic-containing drug. According to The Wall Street Journal: “The agency said it recently conducted a study of 100 broiler chickens that detected inorganic arsenic at higher levels in the livers of chickens treated with 3-Nitro compared with untreated chickens … Pfizer said sale of 3-Nitro would be stopped by early July in order to allow animal producers to transition to other treatments.”
This urgent request made by the FDA back in 2011 was surprising in itself as the agency had always maintained that the arsenic in chickens was at such low levels that it was safe for consumption, when in the years following it has been clinically proven to be extremely toxic to human health, causing an array of neurological defects in developing fetuses and young children.
So, the next time you’re out buying chicken (if you’re not totally put off by it at this point) make sure you look out for the following:
-If the chicken meat is bright pink in color, avoid it at all costs.
-Make sure that the fat content on the chicken is white to deep yellow, not gray
or pasty.
-Check the date on the package.
-And finally, aim for “Certified Organic” meat products. It’s probably safest
choice for you and your family.
Source: fda.gov