CLAIM: 

Are hormonal injections like steroids used in the production of broiler chicken?

FACT: 

While there have been reports of the practice continuing in some parts of India despite a ban on growth hormones' use in poultry, this does not appear to be the norm. Experts have said selective breeding, immunizations, and the use of antibiotics contribute to the larger sizes of broiler chickens.

Poultry is one of the most popular sources of animal proteins in the world, and chicken is the go to option for many people. However, as its popularity has risen, so has concerns about whether it is safe for consumption. This was the concern that was echoed by a First Check reader who recently wrote to us on our WhatsApp tipline, enquiring about the veracity of the use of growth hormones in broiler chicken and their impact on health.

“Are hormonal injections like steroids used in the production of broiler chicken? How does it impact health? (sic),” the reader asked us over our new AI-powered WhatsApp tipline, where one can send in health-related claims they want fact-checked.

We set about fact-checking the claim to ascertain the facts for our reader.

Chicken that is farm-bred, as opposed to one that is born in the wild is called broiler or factory-farmed chicken. It’s specifically bred for human consumption. A breeder hen lays close to 300 eggs in a year, whose hatchlings are the broiler chicken consumed for their meat within 7 weeks of being hatched. All broiler chicken are white in colour.

The fear that broiler chickens have been injected with growth hormones come from the fact that such factory farmed chickens grow rapidly, and are usually larger in size too.

However, experts have repeatedly dispelled these fears.

While the use of synthetic growth and sex hormones such as testosterone is a proven and lawful practice in the rearing of farm cattle, food authorities in countries such as the US and India have banned its use in the rearing of poultry. Thus, the use of hormones to ensure faster growth of poultry is unfounded.

Further, growth hormone injections are reportedly extremely expensive and injecting every broiler chicken with it is not feasible.

It is in fact, the liberal use of antibiotics accompanied by selective breeding, that ensures rapid proliferation and the bigger sizes among broiler chicken.

But it is also important to note that despite the ban there have been multiple media reports about the use of growth hormones by farm owners. But this is not the norm for the majority of the broiler chicken production.

Also read: Explained: Is eating poultry products safe amid bird flu? - First Check