Plumping: The problem with chicken

"Plumping" is the industry slang for the common practice of injecting chicken meat with saltwater (and sometimes a stabilizer such as carrageenan). This makes the meat look fresher and juicier, inflates the weight of the product, and - according to the plumpers - makes the meat taste better too.

Plumped meat can still be labeled "all natural" because it's being injected with ingredients that are legally considered natural. If you want to avoid plumped chicken, read the tiny print on the label, because it's probably printed in about a 4pt font. Look for terms like "flavor enhanced."

Cost
The practice of plumping forces you to pay for water, when what you really wanted was meat. Considering the rising price of meat, this can be a pretty significant cost. It can add up to an extra $1.50 per package.

It certainly represents a financial boon for the companies selling it. If you can get an extra fifty cents per package just by adding saltwater, that translates to millions of dollars of extra profit annually. The financial incentive to plump chicken is obviously a strong one.

Sodium content
Plumping chicken full of saltwater can add a significant amount of sodium to a product where you might not expect it. One serving of plumped chicken can have more sodium (440 mg) than a large order of fries (350 mg). Aside from the broad-scale health risks, this is a big problem for people who have to watch their sodium for medical reasons.

Avoiding plumped chicken
Ever since realizing what was happening to my slow cooker meals, I switched to Foster Farms chicken.

I realize this will make me sound like a shill for the company. And I understand that Foster Farms is not available everywhere. But not only do they guarantee that their chicken is not plumped, they also treat their chickens well. In fact, they have been Certified Humane by the American Humane Association. In my experience, the extra cost is totally worth it.

You can also seek out fresh local sources of chicken from small producers. This is a great way to support your local economy and protect your family's health. Although I have to admit I haven't found any yet.

Image courtesy Flickr/normanack