Read your turkey's label

[carolm]

I went to the grocery store tonight and thought I'd go ahead and get a turkey to smoke for Thanksgiving. I grabbed up a Kroger brand and put it in my cart. I saw that it was infused with something to keep it moist. I turned it over and it said "contains wheat gluten and soy ingredients". What the hell? It's a turkey.... did it need to be infused with gluten and soy? So I got a Butterball that was infused with chicken broth, sodium and water.

Proof that we always have to read labels. Always. Be on your guard so you have an enjoyable Thanksgiving.

Carol

[UkuleleLady]

A great reminder! I ate salami yesterday that I discovered has nonfat milk in it! So easy to make an assumption about something.

[dfpowell]

I just bought a fresh turkey today at our local Lunds, it has nothing extra added. I have even noticed some brands of beef are having solutions added to them, similar to some pork they are saying "always tended". It is maddening why can't they leave the meat alone!

[lorimoose]

Thanks Carol, it did not occur to me to inspect the turkey. This also makes me think, that if I were to eat in a restaurant, even if they add nothing.....something may already be in there.

I think I will look into the Whole Foods fresh turkey this year.

Lori

[Zizzle]

I'm paying $3.99/lb for a fresh, locally raised, free-range, organic, blah, blah turkey from my local butcher. I even know the name of the farm in PA that it came from. Worth it for this once a year celebration!

[tex]

Look at what's happening here. This is not unlike the old "protection" schemes so common in organized crime, a century ago, whereby a store owner paid a regular bribe installment, so that the "mob" would allow him to remain in business.

In essence, we are forced to pay a premium (the equivalent of a bribe) so that the processors of certain meats won't adulterate the food with hazardous chemicals. Less costs more. What's wrong with this picture.

I'm certainly not blaming the producers of safe food — they're just taking advantage of a niche market to offer a product that's desperately needed by a significant portion of the general population. And the fact that people will gladly pay those prices proves that the need is real. The entire precessing industry and the government regulatory agencies are to blame, for creating this pathetic state of affairs in the first place.

Tex

[coryhub]

Hi Carol,
Thanks for the reminder about the different infusions of turkey. I'll be on the watch. I know reading labeling can be tricky so I'll check out the Butterballs and thanks for that recommendation.
Happy Turkey Day!
Cory

[mzh]

I guess there is a reason I like Butterballs best.

[wmonique2]

Well. Carol, I am invited! Who knows what they'll feed me!

I am gonna ask them to read the label (how awkward ;-)

Thanks for the warning, Carol. Who would have thought that the bird will be infused with gluten?


Monique

[JFR]

For probably the only time in decades I am going to the house of a stranger, a friend of my son's. I figured if nothing else I could eat some plain turkey. Now what? I don't feel comfortable making inquiries or demands of someone I don't even know and it seems so impolite to not eat. Sigh...Maybe I can ask my son to politely inquire.

Jean

[lorimoose]

Hi. Just a note of caution about the butterball turkeys.

Yesterday I was looking the the Turkeys. Not all the Butterballs were gluten free. Only the premium ones had GF on the label. My store had then both in the same display.

Lori

[carolm]

I saw that some turkeys were infused with butter, meaning dairy and soy. :(. They were plainly labeled though. So even at your basic grocery store there were other options for turkey without allergens.