Historians are still unsure if turkey meat was served at the first Thanksgiving, but nonetheless, these affectionate and social birds have been considered a Thanksgiving staple for centuries. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that nearly 218 million turkeys are produced each year. Of those, about 46 million turkeys are killed for Thanksgiving meals, according to the USDA. Domestic turkeys, the ones you find in supermarkets for Thanksgiving, can live for up to 10 years. These oversized turkeys are not bred to live long-term; they are slaughtered between 12 weeks and five months old. Modern factory-farmed turkeys are selectively bred to produce more meat, and grow so big that they can’t walk or breathe properly. These birds cannot even mate on their own; they are forcibly artificially inseminated. Today, turkeys are twice the size of turkeys from less than 100 years ago. Turkeys endure immense suffering, physically and mentally, before ending up on a platter. They are stripped of their natural environments, treated poorly and slaughtered in horrific ways. Here are the reasons animal rights activists argue you should not eat turkey this Thanksgiving.
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, you may be wondering if you should skip the traditional roasted turkey this year. There’s been some buzz lately about the potential downsides of eating turkey. But is avoiding turkey completely necessary? Let’s take a balanced look at the pros and cons.
Understanding the Controversy
In recent years, some media outlets and bloggers have raised concerns about the health and ethics of eating turkey Here are a few of the most common arguments against turkey
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Health risks – There are claims that commercial turkeys contain hormones, antibiotics, and other chemicals that could pose health risks. Undercooking turkey can also lead to foodborne illnesses.
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Environmental impact – Turkey factory farming is said to have a large carbon footprint. Also, commercial feed production contributes to deforestation and pollution.
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Animal welfare – Critics argue that turkeys on factory farms live in cramped, stressful conditions without access to natural behaviors.
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Cost – A whole turkey is expensive compared to chicken or other main dishes. Some see it as an overpriced overrated tradition.
These criticisms have made some people feel guilty about eating turkey for Thanksgiving dinner. With misinformation spreading rapidly online, it’s easy to get confused.
Looking at the Benefits of Turkey
However, there are also lots of good reasons to keep turkey on the menu. Here’s a quick rundown:
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Excellent lean protein – A 3 oz serving of roasted turkey breast has 26g of protein with just 0.6g of saturated fat. Protein supports immune function and satisfies hunger.
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Rich in vitamins and minerals – Turkey provides niacin, selenium, zinc, phosphorus, choline, and vitamins B6 and B12.
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Versatile ingredient – Leftover turkey can be used in casseroles, sandwiches, soups, salads, and more. Less food waste!
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Tradition and convenience – Serving turkey for Thanksgiving dinner is convenient. No need to break with tradition or make multiple main dishes.
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Supports turkey farmers – Purchasing turkey helps small family turkey farms stay in business. Many adhere to higher welfare standards than factory farms.
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Delicious flavor – Let’s be honest, turkey just tastes amazing with gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and all the fixings. The perfect centerpiece for a holiday feast!
So when prepared properly and sourced conscientiously, turkey can be a nutritious, ethical choice this holiday season.
Evaluating Health Risks
What about those health risks associated with eating turkey? It’s true that undercooked turkey poses a risk of foodborne illness. To stay safe:
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Cook turkey to an internal temperature of 165°F, use a meat thermometer to check.
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Refrigerate promptly and follow safe handling procedures.
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Thaw turkey completely before cooking.
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Wash hands, utensils, and surfaces that contact raw turkey to avoid cross-contamination.
As for hormones and antibiotics, regulations prohibit their use in turkeys produced for human consumption. However, conventionally raised turkeys may receive medications to treat illness. Buying certified organic turkey offers more assurance.
Talk to your doctor about any special dietary considerations if you have food allergies or intolerances. Overall, healthy individuals can safely appreciate turkey in moderation.
Environmentally Friendly Options
What about the carbon footprint of commercial turkey farming? It’s true this is a concern. Here are some tips for more eco-friendly turkey choices:
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Buy locally-raised heritage or free-range turkeys. This supports small farms and reduces transportation miles.
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Look for certification symbols like Animal Welfare Approved that indicate higher welfare standards and sustainability practices.
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Order a smaller turkey or just breast meat if you have a smaller gathering. This reduces waste.
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Use leftovers creatively. Soup stock, casseroles and creative sandwiches minimize waste.
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Compost the carcass and food scraps to enrich soil.
With some simple solutions, you can enjoy your holiday turkey in an environmentally responsible manner.
Ensuring Ethical Treatment
Animal welfare is also a valid concern. Conventionally raised turkeys often live in crowded indoor facilities. A better option is to source free-range and pasture-raised turkeys when possible. Here’s what to look for when buying ethically raised turkey:
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“Free-range” means birds have access to the outdoors. Look for birds with room to roam.
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“Pasture-raised” indicates turkeys can forage on rotational pastures. More natural diet and behaviors.
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Certified Humane, Animal Welfare Approved, and Global Animal Partnership are trusted certifications.
You can also order directly from local farms you trust. Ask questions about their specific welfare practices. With a little research, you can enjoy your holiday meal knowing the turkeys lived a decent life.
Cost and Budget Considerations
Is turkey more expensive than chicken or ham? Yes, whole turkeys are pricier. Here are some tips for making turkey more budget-friendly:
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Buy a smaller 10-12 lb turkey for fewer guests. Stick to 1 lb per person as a guideline.
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Shop sales leading up to the holiday. Prices usually drop.
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Buy a turkey breast rather than a whole bird if preferred. It costs less per pound.
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Use leftovers to create budget-friendly meals later in the week.
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Try an alternative main dish but add turkey just for appetizers. Get the flavor without the large budget hit.
With smart planning, you can still enjoy turkey on a moderate budget. The sides, desserts, and quality family time are what really matter anyway.
Satisfying Traditional and Dietary Needs
Eating turkey for Thanksgiving dinner is a food tradition for many families. And traditions help bring us together during the holidays. But what if you have special dietary needs to accommodate? These tips can help:
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Order a smaller turkey breast rather than a whole bird if you have a smaller gathering or want reduced calories.
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Create a “turkey-free” side dish medley as one main entrée option for non-meat eaters.
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Accommodate food allergies and intolerances by preparing stuffing and gravy separately from the turkey.
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Substitute plant-based or lab-grown “turkey” products if preferred.
The holiday spirit is what we make it – regardless of what specific foods are served. Cherish time together rather than stressful menu planning.
Is Turkey Healthy Overall?
At the end of the day, is turkey good for you or not? As part of a balanced diet, the pros of turkey outweigh potential risks for most people.
Turkey provides lean protein, essential vitamins and minerals, and satisfying flavor. Eaten in moderation, it can be part of a healthy diet. To gain the most benefits from turkey:
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Consume reasonable portion sizes. Go for 3 to 4 oz per serving.
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Opt for lean breast meat more often than legs or wings.
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Pair with vegetables, whole grains, fruit, yogurt, and healthy fats.
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Drink water instead of sugary beverages like soda or sweet tea.
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Be active before and after your thanksgiving feast! Take a walk with loved ones to balance extra holiday calories.
Creative Turkey Recipes to Try
Want to enjoy turkey but skip the same old roasted bird? Get creative with preparation! Consider trying:
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Grilled turkey burgers with sweet potato fries and kale slaw
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Zesty turkey chili with beans and veggies spooned over baked sweet potatoes
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Turkey and vegetable soup with brown rice
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Asian turkey lettuce wraps with peanut ginger sauce
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Italian turkey meatballs served over zucchini noodles
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Turkey pumpkin seed pesto pasta tossed with roasted broccoli
The possibilities are endless for giving leftover turkey new life. Get the kids involved in the kitchen and make it fun!
Ensuring Sustainable Consumption
With rising concerns about climate change, is there a way to ensure turkey consumption is sustainable? Absolutely! We can all be part of the solution through mindful choices.
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Support local farms and minimize transportation when possible.
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Purchase only what you need and creatively use leftovers. Compost the remains.
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Look for free-range, organic, non-GMO fed turkeys as a more sustainable option over conventionally factory farmed.
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If purchasing a whole turkey, use the bones to make homemade broth. This honors the animal and reduces waste.
We all can take small steps to reduce the environmental footprint of our Thanksgiving meals. Our collective choices and actions make a meaningful difference.
An Ethical Decision
Calculating the pros and cons, my personal stance is that eating turkey can still be an ethical, healthy decision with conscientious choices. A complete ban on turkey seems unnecessary for most. But I recognize individual perspectives on meat consumption vary greatly.
As we approach the holidays, make intentional food decisions that reflect your values. Be tolerant of loved ones who may see things differently. And focus more on the rituals that bring you together than
The Environmental Impact
On your Thanksgiving plate, turkey contributes about 1.49 kg of CO2 emissions per serving. This highlights the environmental footprint of poultry production, despite its lower emissions compared to other meats. People also waste around 35 percent of the turkey meat they were going to eat for Thanksgiving.
Though turkey only produces around one-tenth of the emissions that beef does, there are a variety of impacts that turkey production has on the environment. For example, phosphorus, found in poultry manure, can pollute nearby water sources and fuel harmful algae growth.
Inhumane Slaughter Methods
Over 200 million turkeys are slaughtered each year in the United States, and 99 percent of them are raised on factory farms. Inside these large industrialized buildings, up to 10,000 turkeys are crammed into a single barn. Most industrialized farming operations hold around 55,000 turkeys at a time.
A guide from the Humane Slaughter Association provides step-by-step instructions on how to slaughter animals “humanely.” A “killing cone” is used to keep animals from squirming too much while they’re being slaughtered. This method sometimes fails to make the birds unconscious quickly, and can make breathing difficult and uncomfortable for larger birds.
Electrical stunning is often used to render birds unconscious before slaughter, which can cause some animals to respond with “epileptic-like fits.”
Other terms that appear in the humane slaughter handbook include concussion stunning followed by neck cutting, neck dislocation and gas killing. Concussion stunning “involves the application of a severe blow to the skull to cause immediate unconsciousness, or, if sufficient force is applied, death. This must be followed by neck cutting or neck dislocation to ensure the death of the bird.”
Turkeys in the U.S. can either be stunned using carbon dioxide stunning or electrical stunning. The latter method consists of shackling live turkeys by their ankles, which requires force that usually breaks their delicate bones, and running them along a conveyor belt into electrically charged water. This water is supposed to render them unconscious, but electrical currents can sometimes be too low, meaning turkeys are fully conscious while getting their throats slit by a rotating blade. Sometimes turkeys miss the blade, which results in dumping them into scalding hot water tanks, which are used to loosen their feathers for defeathering.
The Humane Slaughter Act was passed by the USDA Food Safety and Inspections Service (FSIS) branch in 1978 to require “humane” handling of animals before and during slaughter. But this act does not apply to turkeys or chickens. Poultry birds and factory-farmed animals, in general, have virtually zero legal protections.
Why Don’t We Eat Turkey Eggs!
FAQ
Is it safe to eat turkey again?
You can safely eat leftover turkey within 3 to 4 days when stored properly in the refrigerator at or below 40°F (4°C). If you want to keep it longer, you can freeze it for up to 2 to 6 months. Always make sure to reheat the turkey to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) before eating.
Does the Bible allow us to eat turkey?
Chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, quail and pheasants do not appear on this list of unclean birds and are considered clean—okay for us to eat. Most insects are not good to eat, but God says some insects, such as locusts, grasshoppers and crickets, are okay to eat (Leviticus 11:22).
Is it safe to eat ground turkey 2 days past use by date?
Raw ground turkey typically lasts in the fridge for 2 to 3 days past its use-by date. It can sometimes be safe to eat after 4 days if it’s tightly sealed and refrigerated, but make sure its still good before using it.
Can you eat a 2 year old turkey?
Typically the guideline is meat is good in normal packaging for up to 1 year, if it’s vacuum sealed it can still be good for 3 years. Turkeys are typically packaged better than when you shove leftovers in a Ziplock, so it might still be good after 2 years.