Understanding Chicken Labels: Natural, Organic, Free Range, and More

Chicken. One of the most common protein sources in America, yet misunderstood in the grocery store aisle. Poultry labeling is often confusing and misleading. Gaining a clear understanding of label terms can help you make the best choice for the health of you and your family.

“All natural” and “natural” labels indicate that the meat is minimally processed and does not contain any unnatural additives. This label is misleading, since most raw meat doesn’t contain artificial additives (Kawasaki, 2019). On packages without the “natural” designation, it is wise to simply check the ingredients panel to verify whether the ingredients are healthy. 

“Naturally raised” is a confusing term. Poultry marked as “naturally raised” is given vegetarian feed, no antibiotics, and no hormones. While this label is enticing, it does not indicate whether the bird was given access to the outdoors. However, it is important to note that all organic poultry is “naturally raised,” even if it is not marked with this label (Kawasaki, 2019). 

Antibiotic use in poultry has been criticized. There are two labels regarding antibiotics, “no antibiotics ever” and “antibiotic free,” and the difference is vital. Poultry labeled “no antibiotics ever” does not receive any antibiotics from birth to slaughter. “Antibiotic free” indicates that the bird did not have an antibiotic treatment within 14 days of slaughter, but it could have had antibiotics in its lifetime (Gordon Food Service).

The use of hormones in poultry has been prohibited under federal law since 1959. Therefore, the “no hormones” label is meaningless, since all poultry never receive hormone treatment (Kawasaki, 2019).

“Cage free” is misleading. This label simply means that the chicken was not placed in a cage. This means that “cage free” chickens can still be confined to an overcrowded building with no outdoor access. Additionally, most birds raised for meat never see a cage anyway, so this label is somewhat meaningless (Chicken Check-In; Gordon Food Service; Kawasaki, 2019).

“Free range” indicates that the chicken was raised with access to the outdoors. This does not guarantee that the chicken spent any of its life outside. The poultry farm may have been equipped with a large building and a small concrete outdoor area, accessible by a single door. If this building was overcrowded, the chicken may have never seen the outdoors, yet alone grass, even if it wanted to (Kawasaki, 2019). 

“Pasture raised” recently gained a more specific legal definition that clarifies how the chicken was raised. This term is now regulated and a chicken carrying this label must “spend the ‘majority’ of its life on pasture, defined as ‘land having rooted vegetative cover, grasses or plants’” (Leasca, 2025). Pasture raised truly means that the bird was raised on a grassy pasture.

USDA “organic” chicken meets the “naturally raised” and “free range” requirements and must exclusively receive organic feed. Simply put, this means that “organic” chicken is fed organic vegetarian feed, receives no hormones or antibiotics, and has access to the outdoors. Additionally, all substances used in processing “organic” chicken must be approved for use under the organic standards. However, these chickens may still be vaccinated for common poultry diseases (Chicken Check-In).

Chicken meat receives a grade, either A, B, or C. Unlike beef, this system has no bearing on the nutritional content of the meat. Chicken grades are determined based on appearance and are assessed by checking for broken bones, skin tears, and feathers. Grade A chicken is usually the only type of chicken you will find in the store. Grade B and C chicken is used in ground and processed chicken products (Kawasaki, 2019).

“Air-chilled” applies to the method that is used to cool chickens after slaughter and does not have any bearing on nutritional value. Compared to “water-chilled” chickens, “air-chilled” chickens typically have better flavor. “Water-chilled” chickens often have labels that say something along the lines of “contains up to 5% retained water” (Rudolph, 2023).

The best chicken you can find at your grocery store is organic and pasture raised. Finding a local chicken farm is an even better option. Most small farms aren’t likely to be USDA certified due to red tape and government oversight requirements. Find a farmer you trust who raises his pastured flock organically.

  The best way to achieve optimal health is through a balanced diet based on organic whole foods and a healthy lifestyle. Schedule an appointment with Renewed Hope Nutrition for personalized natural health suggestions, functional lab interpretations, and nutritional support. Explore our podcast to learn more about natural health.

References:

Chicken Check-In. (n.d.). 5 Confusing Chicken Labels (and What They Actually Mean). National Chicken Council. Retrieved from https://www.chickencheck.in/blog/confusing-chicken-labels/

Gordon Food Service. (n.d.). Your Guide to Interpreting Chicken Labels. Gordon Food Service: Running Your Business. Retrieved from https://gfs.com/en-us/ideas/your-guide-interpreting-chicken-labels/

Kawasaki, M. (February 22, 2019). Know Your Chicken: What USDA Poultry Labels Actually Mean. Serious Eats. Retrieved from https://www.seriouseats.com/what-is-organic-free-range-chicken-usda-poultry-chicken-labels-definition

Leasca, S. (June 16, 2025). “Pasture Raised” Has a Brand-New Definition - Here’s Why that Matters at the Meat Counter. Food and Wine. Retrieved from https://www.foodandwine.com/pasture-raised-vs-free-range-usda-definition-11754667

Rudolph, J. (July 24, 2023). What Do All the Different Labels on Chicken Packaging Mean? America’s Test Kitchen. Retrieved from https://www.americastestkitchen.com/articles/7398-what-do-all-the-different-labels-on-chicken-packaging-mean