Perdue first to feature USDA Process Verified Seal

By Meat&Poultry Staff

SALISBURY, Md. – Perdue fresh, all-natural chicken products are the first US poultry products to feature the US Department of Agriculture Process Verified Seal for its practices, the company announced. USDA verified Perdue products with this seal are from chickens raised without cages and/or were fed an all-vegetarian diet.

"We worked directly with the USDA to create verification programs that would give consumers added confidence in how our chickens are raised and what they are fed," says Jim Perdue, chairman. "The USDA is a trusted resource and we believe the seal will make it easier for consumers to choose chicken products they can feel good about feeding their families."

This new seal will help address consumer uncertainty about label claims. A 2011 national telephone survey conducted by Infogroup/Opinion Research Corporation on behalf of Perdue reveals of those consumers who purchased raw, fresh chicken in the past six months and read product labels:

  • Eighty-nine percent do not believe everything meat or poultry packaging and labels say or claim.
  • Sixty percent do not know who is responsible for making sure the health and other claims made on product packaging are accurate.
  • Nearly 40% prefer products that have been verified by a third party.

The USDA Process Verified Seal indicates USDA has audited the company's processes behind claims made on the product's packaging – so consumers know they can trust it. Perdue's USDA Process Verified programs include "All Vegetarian Diet," "No Animal Byproducts" and "Raised Cage Free." ?

"We feed our birds the finest natural grain products, including corn, soybeans and marigolds, with no animal byproducts," Perdue said. "Products carrying the Raised Cage Free claim are verified to come from birds that are free to move about within temperature-controlled chicken houses.

For more information about the program, go to: www.PerdueVerifiablyGood.com.