What is Liquid Chicken? Uncovering the Mystery Behind the Strange Trucks

Have you ever been driving down the highway and seen a tanker truck with the words “Haulin’ Liquid Chicken” plastered on the side? If so, you’re definitely not alone. These strange trucks have been spotted all across the southern United States, leaving drivers scratching their heads and wondering just what exactly “liquid chicken” is.

As someone who encountered one of these trucks myself, I was determined to get to the bottom of this mystery. I did some digging online and made a few calls to uncover the truth behind liquid chicken. Keep reading to learn what I discovered.

A Perplexing Sight for Drivers

The first sightings of “liquid chicken” trucks seem to date back to 2007, with people reporting seeing the trucks in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and other southern states The earliest reference I could find was from a blog called “Cracker Barrel Tour 2007,” written by a couple documenting their road trip across the country They posted a photo of a stainless steel tanker truck labeled “Haulin’ Liquid Chicken” and wondered what on earth it could be carrying.

Since then multitudes of perplexed drivers have posted online about encountering the trucks. Reactions range from curiosity to disgust. On trucking forums and reddit threads people trade guesses about what might be inside the tanks. Proposed theories include everything from liquefied chicken meat to raw sewage to toxic waste.

The fact that the contents are labeled “inedible” on the trucks only heightens the mystery. It seems no one knows for sure what these trucks are hauling, but everyone who sees them is dying to find out.

The Leading Explanation: Rendered Fat

After digging through discussion forums and contacting a few sources, the most plausible explanation I found is that “liquid chicken” refers to rendered chicken fat.

Rendering is the process of melting down animal byproducts to extract usable fats and proteins. Chicken fat is rendered from the waste parts of chickens that can’t be used for human consumption. This can include heads, feet, bones, feathers, and intestines. The materials are dumped into a giant cooker, boiled at high temperatures, and continuously strained until only purified fat remains.

This rendered fat has various industrial applications. It can be used as an ingredient in animal feeds, soaps, cosmetics, lubricants, and even explosives. Rendering plants process millions of pounds of chicken fat each year in the United States. The liquid fat is then shipped across the country in tanker trucks to be sold to manufacturers.

Rendered chicken fat would need to be labeled “inedible” since it’s not approved for human consumption. This fits with the descriptions of the mysterious “liquid chicken” trucks. Based on this evidence, it seems highly likely that rendered fat is what’s inside those stainless steel tanks rolling down southern highways.

A Closer Look at Rendering

To understand how liquid chicken is produced, let’s take a closer look at the rendering process. Rendering plants collect animal byproducts from meat processors, slaughterhouses, and poultry farms. The raw materials arrive frozen or fresh. Plants process multiple types of animal tissue in the same equipment.

The materials first undergo size reduction through grinding, crushing, or chipping. Next, they are cooked in giant industrial cookers at 240-290°F for 1-5 hours. The liquefied fat separates from the solids, which sink to the bottom. The fat is strained out and purified using a centrifuge. After filtering, it emerges as a pure, protein-free liquid fat.

This fat can be stored for extended periods or shipped to manufacturers. It’s an efficient method for recycling inedible scraps into useful commodities. In the case of liquid chicken, that amber-colored liquid heading to factories around the country consists of nothing but purified, rendered chicken fat.

Why the Strange Name?

While rendered chicken fat accounts for the “liquid” part, it doesn’t fully explain why the trucks boast such an odd name. After all, the contents are fat, not actual chicken meat or broth. So why call it “liquid chicken”?

I believe trucking companies chose the memorable name as a marketing tactic. “Liquid chicken fat” doesn’t have the same ring to it. The provocative name grabs attention from drivers, who then spread the word online. In a way, the mystery becomes free advertising!

By stirring curiosity, liquid chicken trucks essentially market themselves. Even though the name may not accurately describe the cargo, it brillianly sparks conversation and debate. It transforms an everyday truck into a perplexing sight that launches viral discussion threads.

For trucking companies hauling rendered fat, liquid chicken is simply a memorable brand name. But for the rest of us, it’s an enduring mystery that captures our imagination on the open road.

Solving the Decade-Long Mystery

Although it took some digging, the pieces of the liquid chicken puzzle seem to fit together. Rendered chicken fat would require industrial tanker trucks to transport across the country. It also perfectly matches the “inedible” designation on the stainless steel tanks. And it makes sense why such a strange cargo would get an equally cryptic name.

Of course, without seeing inside the trucks firsthand, we can’t know 100% what they contain. But based on the available evidence, rendered chicken fat provides the most logical explanation for the enduring liquid chicken phenomenon.

So the next time you’re road tripping across the south and spot one of these strange trucks, you can amaze your travel companions by unraveling the decade-long mystery. Just remember – don’t get too close, because rendered fat spills definitely rank high on the list of worst road hazards!