Poultry industry booming thanks to millennials

Move over, beef and pork. Poultry is today's protein of choice for millennials, and the industry is booming as a result.

Sales of poultry products have topped $72 billion in the past year, with millennials (defined here as those aged 21 to 34) accounting for more than half of that market. They are especially drawn to white-meat chicken, which has surpassed red meat as the top source of protein in the American diet.

What's behind this seismic shift? Nutrition is one factor: Poultry is considered a healthier alternative to beef and pork, with lower levels of fat and cholesterol. But there's more to it than that. Young people today are also looking for foods that are convenient and affordable, and poultry fits the bill on both counts.

Another key reason for poultry's popularity is its versatility. It can be cooked in so many different ways – grilled, baked, roasted, smoked, fried, or even eaten cold – making it ideal for any occasion or palate.

So if you want to join the flock, what are some of the best ways to enjoy poultry? Here are a few recipes to get you started:

1 Grilled chicken tacos with avocado salsa

2 Simple roasted chicken with rosemary and lemon

3 Spicy fried chicken with Sriracha mayo

antibiotic-free labels growing in popularity

Over the past several years, antibiotic-free labels have been popping up on an increasing number of food items. But what does this label mean, and is it something you should look for when shopping for groceries?

Antibiotic-free labeling means that the item in question has not been treated with antibiotics. This is important because the overuse of antibiotics has led to the development of antibiotic resistance, making infections harder to treat.

When choosing foods that have an antibiotic-free label, you can be sure that you are not contributing to this problem. Additionally, these foods are often considered to be healthier than their conventional counterparts, as they are free of hormones, pesticides, and other additives.

While there are some drawbacks to buying antibiotic-free foods – they can be more expensive and may be hard to find – the benefits outweigh these concerns. So next time you're grocery shopping, be sure to look for items with an antibiotic-free label.

Is there lead in your chicken?

Lead is a heavy, toxic metal that can cause serious health problems. It is especially harmful to children and pregnant women. Unfortunately, lead is often found in food, including chicken.

In 2016, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) tested chicken sold in grocery stores across the United States. They found that nearly three-quarters of the chicken tested had detectable levels of lead. The highest levels were found in store-brand chickens from Walmart, Pilgrim's Pride, and Sanderson Farms.

So how worried should you be about eating lead-contaminated chicken? The truth is, we don't really know. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not set a safe level for lead in food. And while some experts say that any level of lead exposure is unsafe, others argue that it's only harmful at very high levels.

What we do know is that even small amounts of lead can be harmful. Lead exposure can cause learning disabilities, behavioral problems, and other health problems in children. Pregnant women who are exposed to lead can give birth to babies with low birth weight or brain damage.

If you're concerned about the lead content of your chicken, there are a few steps you can take:

1. Buy organic chicken whenever possible. EWG's testing found that organic chickens had significantly lower levels of lead than conventionally raised chickens.

2. Avoid store-brand chickens from Walmart, Pilgrim's Pride, and Sanderson Farms. These brands had the highest levels of lead in EWG's testing.

3. Check the packaging for country of origin labels. Chickens raised in countries such as China and Thailand are more likely to be contaminated with lead than those raised in the United States or Canada.

Judge awards $9 million to family of man killed by turkey

The family of a man killed by a turkey has been awarded $9 million in damages by a judge.

43-year-old Gerald Ziemba was killed after a wild turkey smashed into his car windshield, causing him to lose control of the vehicle and crash.

Ziemba's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the town of Clarence, New York, claiming that officials had failed to take measures to protect residents from the aggressive turkeys.

The jury agreed, awarding the Ziemba family $9 million in damages.

Town officials said they were "disappointed" with the verdict and are considering their options moving forward.

Researchers create edible silicon battery that could power chicken farming

A team of researchers from the University of Central Florida have created a low-cost, edible silicon battery that could be used to power chicken farming operations.

The battery is made from a paste consisting of silicon dioxide and water, which is then dried and placed on top of chicken feed. When the chickens eat the battery, the silicone is absorbed into their bloodstream and travels to their bones, where it hardens.

"Silicon batteries could last for years without degrading, making them a much more sustainable source of energy than traditional batteries," said study co-author Chengyuan He.

The team tested the battery in a small room filled with chickens, and found that it was able to power a fan and LED light. They plan to continue testing the battery in larger-scale chicken farming operations.

"This technology has the potential to revolutionize how we farm chickens," said study co-author Jie Zhang. "It could greatly reduce the amount of energy needed to power chicken farming operations, which would reduce costs and carbon emissions."