Understanding Poultry Labels and Production Claims

Terms on poultry packaging can communicate useful information, but consumers should understand exactly what each claim describes and avoid extending it to unrelated farming practices.

One claim is one piece of information

A housing claim can describe where birds live. A feed claim can describe part of their diet. An antibiotic claim can describe a health-treatment standard. These statements should not automatically be treated as interchangeable.

Free-range and free-run

These terms relate to the birds’ environment and movement. Consumers should ask what the producer means in practice, particularly when buying directly from a smaller farm.

Raised without antibiotics

Method-of-production claims involving antibiotics must meet applicable Canadian criteria. Vaccination is a separate animal-health practice and should not be confused with antibiotic treatment.

Organic

Organic is a regulated claim in Canada. It should be distinguished from general marketing language that may sound similar but does not necessarily indicate organic certification.

Ask beyond the package

Farm-direct purchasing allows consumers to ask about housing, outdoor access, feed, vaccination, treatment of illness, processing and seasonal availability.

The goal is not to find the most attractive label. It is to understand what actually happened on the farm.