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Drop off in chicken quality?

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NibbleMeThis
NibbleMeThis Posts: 2,295
edited November -1 in EggHead Forum
Has anyone else noticed a drop off in the quality of whole chickens recently?

I smoked a pair of chickens yesterday. One had broken ribs and the foot broken off.

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The other was missing half a wing entirely.

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I have consistently bought Tyson young chickens over the years and lately I have seen a lot of this lately. I know I'm just going to spatchcock them and cook them anyway, but it just seems like quality control isn't what it used to be. Maybe I've just been unlucky?

On edit: PS I'm doing a giveaway of Peace, Love, and Barbecue on my facebook page. Giving it away Monday night. http://www.facebook.com/NibbleMeThis2
Knoxville, TN
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Comments

  • PhilsGrill
    PhilsGrill Posts: 2,256
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    Definitely a Tennessee thing.
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  • Little Chef
    Little Chef Posts: 4,725
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    Chris: Haven't seen that here! I always look for bruising in the package which indicates the bird was injured while still alive or very early in the slaughter process while blood was still flowing. If no bruising is apparent, it's a result of rough handling after processing. What are the other common factors here...same retailer? Call Tyson to express your observations and concerns.
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  • milesofsmiles
    milesofsmiles Posts: 1,377
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    Philsgrill, Tyson is in Ark. The # 3 chicken producer in the world, behind China #1 and Brazil #2. :):):) Ronnie.
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  • cookingdude555
    cookingdude555 Posts: 3,194
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    **** fighters have to be eaten, just like everybody else. You may have enjoyed a prize fighter, that is until he lost.
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  • tjv
    tjv Posts: 3,830
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    I try to stick with Grade A birds. They cost a little more per pound but I find less problems with the birds. Need to look for the little USDA "A" label on the packaging.

    t
    www.ceramicgrillstore.com ACGP, Inc.
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  • NibbleMeThis
    NibbleMeThis Posts: 2,295
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    Guess I need to move then :laugh:
    Knoxville, TN
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  • NibbleMeThis
    NibbleMeThis Posts: 2,295
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    Good point, it does seem to be after the fact damage as there is no blood pooling in the affected areas.

    Also good point about the retailer, we almost always get the twin pack from Sam's.
    Knoxville, TN
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  • NibbleMeThis
    NibbleMeThis Posts: 2,295
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    Now given that I am in East Tennessee where that kind of thing goes on (recent bust in past few months), that is extra funny! :laugh:
    Knoxville, TN
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  • Richard Fl
    Richard Fl Posts: 8,297
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    Could all the tragedy in AR and surrounding areas have anything to do with the quality? They did loose millions of birds.
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  • NibbleMeThis
    NibbleMeThis Posts: 2,295
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    That's why I love this forum. I didn't realize they had USDA grades for chickens!

    I'll definitely be on the look out from now on, thanks for the pointer.
    Knoxville, TN
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  • NibbleMeThis
    NibbleMeThis Posts: 2,295
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    I don't think that's it. I've been seeing this for about the past two months.

    I'm thinking tjv and Little Chef both may be on to something.
    Knoxville, TN
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  • Little Chef
    Little Chef Posts: 4,725
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    Chris: I can 99.999999% guarantee that you are getting Grade A chickens at Sams. Grade B&C don't generally even make it to retail...they are processed into canned soups, etc, then even into cat/dog food, etc. I can't help but think it's the way they are being stocked. Those 'twin packs' are packaged in a way that makes it easy to 'sling them' around. And as discussed previously, if there's no bruising, it likely happened after the processing facility.
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  • tjv
    tjv Posts: 3,830
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    LC, you might check with your connections as I'd like to know for sure but I think inspection and grading are two different deals. Inspection is mandatory and grading is voluntary with poultry. I have a couple grocery stores around me that do not carry graded birds on occasion, my local Kroger being one.

    t
    www.ceramicgrillstore.com ACGP, Inc.
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  • Little Chef
    Little Chef Posts: 4,725
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    tjv: You are correct, inspection and grading are two different deals. Beef, pork & poultry are required to be inspected. But no meat, including beef, is required to be graded. (Some game does not require inpection at all.) Inspections are covered by our tax dollars, grading is not, and instead paid by the processing facility. Tough to be a reputable beef or poultry dealer, without paying the extra $$$ to promote/confirm your quality and grading. Here is a link for you, which helps it make more sense.

    http://www.fsis.usda.gov/factsheets/inspection_&_grading/index.asp

    I suppose my statement was a bit ambiguous, but the main point being....If he is buying a brand name Tyson chicken, from a retailer as large as Sams...I am 99.99999% positive it is graded...and Grade A. And yes, grading is optional. Hope this helps!
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  • Desert Oasis Woman
    Desert Oasis Woman Posts: 5,604
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    Had a broken leg on another brand of "all natural" whole chicken, too :unsure:

    Love to eat meat, not torture the creatures :sick:
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  • Buckethead
    Buckethead Posts: 285
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    All processing plants are under pressure and paid for performance. BPM (Birds per minute) is the standard measure. Broken bones just happen in the process. Many time breaks are hard to detect until you get home because the skin will hide such flaws. But with birds being processed at more than two per second breakage happens.
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  • stike
    stike Posts: 15,597
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    but if it is missing a wing, that happens prior to packaging, no? and aren't they packaged at the processor?

    just wundering :unsure:
    ed egli avea del cul fatto trombetta -Dante
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