The Truthful Labeling Coalition (TLC) , which counts Foster Farms Inc., Sanderson Farms Inc. and Perdue Farms Inc. among its members, addressed the Institute of Medicine Committee on Strategies to Reduce Sodium Intake on Monday, March 30, 2009 regarding the increased sodium content of “enhanced” or “injected” fresh chicken.
TLC has led an effort to have the USDA change its labeling rules so that “enhanced” chicken which is injected with a brine solution in an effort to improve eating qualities of the meat cannot be labeled as “100% Natural” or “All Natural.” The TLC campaign urges the USDA to allow only 100 percent natural chicken, with no additives such as saltwater or seaweed extract, to be labeled as "100% All Natural," and it has asked for a requirement that all added ingredients be prominently displayed on the label.
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Several poultry companies in the U.S. sell enhanced chicken. This issue has been a contentious one for the U.S. poultry industry and TLC brought a series of lawsuits against Tyson Foods Inc. for its “Raised Without Antibiotics” label claim.
According to TLC, a single serving of “enhanced” chicken, taken directly out of the package, may contain over 440 milligrams of sodium, almost 20% of the daily recommended limit for a healthy adult. For individuals on a sodium-restricted diet, one serving of enhanced chicken can provide over half of their daily limit of sodium.
In addition to several poultry company members, TLC claims over 30,000 individual members in all fifty states.
