Poor research by journalists really tweaks me. Such was the case with an article written by Judy Fahys for the Salt Lake City Tribune Utah Study Points to Arsenic in Backyard Chickens. She reported that a Utah family had elevated arsenic levels in their children's urine. Supposedly, the Utah toxicologist, Christina McNaughton, determined that since the water and soil on the family's yard wasn't contaminated, then the culprit must be the eggs from the backyard coop. She claims that arsenic is added to chicken feed on a regular basis and that backyard chicken farmers should beware. My response is look a little deeper, sweetheart.
If arsenic in layer feed is a problem then ALL children in this country are at risk. No one is a bigger consumer of commercial chicken feed than the COMMERICAL CHICKEN FARMER. In truth, chemicals such as arsenic are included in other animal feeds (in its supposedly less toxic, "organic" form) to reduce the incidence of disease. Don't get me wrong, I'm against adding toxic chemicals to any animal feed, but arsenic is not added to layer feed of any kind. In addition, most backyard chickens are fed a varied diet of bugs, weeds and kitchen scraps reducing their need for feed and any associated unwanted chemicals. Finally, most of us backyard chicken raisers use organic chicken feed which further reduces the chances that the hens or those of us who eat their eggs will become contaminated. The article later explains it's position on arsenic laced animal feed, but at first blush it appears to be a slam on backyard coops and labels them as an "issue."
To add insult to injury, Grist published their comments on the article with the title Arsenic found in Utah kids’ pee traced to their pet chickens’ feed. Now you tell me, how credible is an article that uses the word "pee" to describe the poor Utah kids' urine? What are we, in second grade? Haven't the foodies progressed to using big people words? Fellow food advocates, let's not hang ourselves out to dry before we get a chance to implement some much needed changes to how Americans produce and consume their food. Do the research and talk like a grownup. Otherwise, you're just adding fuel to the factory farm machine and looking pretty stupid in the process.
