Tips on buying fresh chicken

MANILA, Philippines - You’d better watch out, you’d better not cry.

 The truth of the matter is, an increasing number of double-dead meats are sold on the market especially during holidays.  Consumers are vulnerable to such schemes and many are rather clueless as to which meats and poultry to buy and which to avoid.  The “ladlad” system, where meats and poultry are exposed in the open air, makes it difficult for buyers to find out the true state of the products they are buying.

A lot of food products nowadays, especially chickens, are sold in plastic bags and sealed containers. However, buyers are mainly taught to inspect such by touching and smelling the products, causing more contamination to the product by virus carried by humans.

Now comes a solution. Vacuum-packaging is an innovative method that removes air from the plastic packaging before sealing it to prevent contamination. This also locks in the freshness of chicken and its natural delicious taste. It has been a very effective way of controlling the growth of bacteria in food while extending its shelf life for up to five times the normal storage life. Vacuum-packaging has also been a standard form of packaging of dry goods, sausages, and chicken in Europe and in the United States.

According to Ana Maria Bacudio, microbiologist at the Manila Health Department, “vacuum-packaging controls contamination and spread of bacteria in the product.” She adds, “It also ensures that products are clean and retain their freshness and original taste.”

Bounty Fresh, a leading broiler integrator in the country and a pioneer in vacuum-packing chicken, introduced vacuum-packaging of chicken in early 2000.  According to Patricia Cheng, group marketing manager of Bounty Fresh Food, Inc., “Vacuum-packaging extends the shelf life of chickens. Furthermore, the weight of the chicken is maintained. Vacuum-packaging also enhances the texture of chicken while maintaining a reasonable price.  It’s an added-value for consumers who want only the best for their families.”

“This holiday season, we encourage consumers to make sure that the chickens they are buying are fresh and safe to cook for the family. That is why Bounty Fresh is one with the government in informing the public about the safe way to prevent them from buying double-dead meats.” Cheng concludes.