Modern organic and broiler chickens sold for human consumption provide more energy from fat than protein.
OBJECTIVE
In 1976, the Royal College of Physicians and the British Cardiac Society recommended eating less fatty red meat and more poultry instead because it was lean. However, the situation has changed since that time, with a striking increase in fat content of the standard broiler chicken. The aim of the present study was to report a snapshot of data on fat in chickens now sold to the public.


METHODS
Samples were obtained randomly between 2004 and 2008 from UK supermarkets, farm shops and a football club. The amount of chicken fat was estimated by emulsification and chloroform/methanol extraction.


METHODS
Food sold in supermarkets and farms in England.


METHODS
Chicken samples.


RESULTS
The fat energy exceeded that of protein. There has been a loss of n-3 fatty acids. The n-6:n-3 ratio was found to be as high as 9:1, as opposed to the recommendation of about 2:1. Moreover, the TAG level in the meat and whole bird mostly exceeded the proportion of phospholipids, which should be the higher for muscle function. The n-3 fatty acid docosapentaenoic acid (DPA, 22 : 5n-3) was in excess of DHA (22 : 6n-3). Previous analyses had, as usual for birds, more DHA than DPA.


CONCLUSIONS
Traditional poultry and eggs were one of the few land-based sources of long-chain n-3 fatty acids, especially DHA, which is synthesized from its parent precursor in the green food chain. In view of the obesity epidemic, chickens that provide several times the fat energy compared with protein seem illogical. This type of chicken husbandry needs to be reviewed with regard to its implications for animal welfare and human nutrition.
Wang
Yiqun
Y
Institute of Brain Chemistry and Human Nutrition, London Metropolitan University, 166-220 Holloway Road, London N7 8DB, UK.
Lehane
Catherine
C
Ghebremeskel
Kebreab
K
Crawford
Michael A
MA
D000821:Animal Feed / Q000009:adverse effects; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000378:metabolism; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis*; D004739:England; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D005504:Food Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008460:Meat / Q000032:analysis*; D009753:Nutritive Value; D011202:Poultry Products / Q000032:analysis
D004041:Dietary Fats; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3