This is because industrial feedlots often inject animals with synthetic hormones to make them grow faster and/or produce leaner meat for food. While the end result may be good for farmers' wallets, humans who consume them don't fare as well.
Antibiotics, for example, are given to animals to protect them from insanity living conditions found in feedlots. When humans routinely ingest them through the meat, however, the 'good' bacteria is in their gut is eradicated, they become more prone to developing weight, and the antibiotics can counter the effects of other treatments. Finally, take into consideration that80% of the antibiotics sold in the United States are used on livestock - that's shocking.
Not only do animals benefit when they're allowed to live in sanitary conditions and are not injected with steroids, the humans who eat them experience better health, as well. For this reason, a major LA school district is switching the chicken it sources for school meals to be completely hormone-and-antibiotic-free.
USA Today reports that on March 8, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) voted to become the first school district of its size to require hormone-and-antibiotic-free chicken in its school meals. At present, more than 732,800 students are enrolled in the district's 1.274 schools.
The full changes will go into effect in fall 2017.
Reportedly, the switch to "clean chicken" is a result of the district's Good Food Procurement resolution, which was launched by school board president Steve Zimmer. The resolution requires that LAUSD fully adopt Good Food Purchasing Guidelines, as defined by the LA Food Policy Council. The importance of local economies, environmental sustainability, valued workforce, animal welfare, and nutrition are stressed in the guidelines.
In fact, the district broke ties with Tyson because of the way it treats it chickens, even though the company is striving to eliminate the use of human antibiotics in its broiler chicken flocks by September 2017.
This isn't the only improvement to be adopted by the district. Over the past decade, the school board has required meals to contain less fat, salt, and sugar. In addition, meals were required to contain more fresh fruit, vegetables, and meat-free options. Sodas and junk food are no longer sold at any of the schools, either.
LAUSD collaborates with school districts in New York City, Chicago, Dallas, Miami, and Orland in swapping ideas concerning food policy. All six school districts are part of the Urban School Food Alliance (USFA), which intends to change school meals for the better.
Since no hormones can be used in the raising of chickens and since a label cannot say "antibiotic free," just what exactly has the LA School District done that is so stellar? How many $$ have been funneled into this program that will go missing?
"Despite what you may hear, no artificial or added hormones are used in the production of any poultry in the United States. Regulations of the Food & Drug Administration prohibit the use of such hormones. No such hormones are used. So any brand of chicken can be labeled “Raised without hormones” or something like that. However, any package of chicken with that type of label must also have a statement that no hormones are used in the production of any poultry."
“Raised without Antibiotics” on a package of chicken indicates that the flock was raised without the use of products classified as antibiotics for animal health maintenance, disease prevention or treatment of disease. Animal health products not classified as antibiotics (such as some coccidiostats, which control protozoal parasites) may still be used. “Antibiotic free” is not allowed to be used on a label but may be found in marketing materials not regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It means the same thing as “Raised without Antibiotics.” All chicken is “antibiotic-free” in the sense that no antibiotic residues are present in the meat due to the withdrawal periods and other precautions required by the government and observed by the chicken companies."
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