Consumers confused about chicken and hormones

  • June 25, 2010
  • Josette Dunn

Iconic Australian poultry brand Steggles has revealed that more than three quarters of Australians mistakenly believe chicken produced locally in Australia contains added hormones and steroids.This is despite the fact that the Australian poultry industry ceased these practices nearly half a century ago. At that time the Australian Government made it illegal to add hormones or steroids to chicken.

Steggles commissioned a study by newspoll among 1000 people and results showed that 76 per cent remained under the misconception that the use of hormones and/or steroids occurred in chicken production. This has prompted the Steggles organisation to address this consumer perception through a public education campaign.

The Steggles group Managing Director, John Camilleri said: “I can assure all Australians there are absolutely no hormones or steroids added to any of our chickens. This is a fundamental commitment to our consumers.”

“It is important consumers are fully aware of the facts about chicken farming and that Australian families can take great comfort in knowing that chickens in Australia are produced in accordance with the regulations and standards set by the statutory authorities and the industry.

“The use of cages in the chicken meat industry is another misconception,” he added.

“Cages are not used in our chicken meat farming operations across Australia. Steggles chickens are free to roam in custom-built, well-ventilated barns with constant access to food and water. Technical staff are also engaged to specifically monitor and audit the welfare of our chickens.

“Dispelling myths like these is important for our industry particularly considering the popularity of chicken in Australia,” added Camilleri.

Recent research showed that chicken is now the most consumed meat in Australia, overtaking beef, with one out of three people eating chicken at least three times a week.


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Reader Comments

Australian Food News reserves the right to edit or not publish comments of a potentially offensive or defamatory nature. Comments will not be published if name and email address has not been provided (name and email will be withheld if requested).

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3 Responses to “Consumers confused about chicken and hormones”

  1. Ray Davis on June 26th, 2010 1:27 pm

    Is there any truth in a statement that steggles geelong recycle the excrement from poultry and mix it with other food and feed it back to the poultry. I heard this second hand,it came apparently from an employee of steggles geelong.

  2. Peter Hall on November 11th, 2010 7:04 am

    This article was of interest to me as chicken is a popular choice for dinner in our house. To hear this message and now be confident to know that there are no added hormones in the Steggles chicken I feed to my family is great news.

  3. Dawn Jackson on November 21st, 2011 1:19 pm

    This interview is disturbing. What does Australia consider free-ranged, factory, etc. That is the real question. Look up Australian laws to see what meat you really should consume. Regulations differ in each country; free-range may not be what consumers think it is. Animals kept inside rather in cages or not have to take antibiotics. Now what’s in those antibiotics….herbalsides, pesticides and more. Australia always claim to have the best crops and meat productions but only difference is they hide the bad stuff better. Rather than the U.S whom don’t care if anyone know how they produce, they rather let you know where and how your food is made. Farming chickens in barns is not good; this is animal in which should live wild, that’s why factories must de-beak. What about that Steggles. Seems like animal cruelty still.