To help consumers choose chicken products they can feel good about, Perdue® fresh, all-natural chicken products now carry the USDA Process Verified Seal. Perdue is the first poultry company to receive this seal of verification for its practices. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has verified that Perdue products with this seal are from chickens that have been raised without cages and/or were fed an all vegetarian diet.

"We worked directly with the USDA to create verification programs that would give consumers added confidence in how our chickens are raised and what they are fed," says Jim Perdue, Chairman of Perdue. "The USDA is a trusted resource and we believe the seal will make it easier for consumers to choose chicken products they can feel good about feeding their families."

The introduction of this new seal will help address consumer uncertainty about label claims. According to a 2011 national telephone survey conducted by Infogroup/Opinion Research Corporation on behalf of Perdue, of those consumers who purchased raw, fresh chicken in the past six months and read product labels:

• 89 per cent of consumers do not believe everything meat or poultry packaging and labels say or claim.
• 60 per cent of consumers do not know who is responsible for making sure the health and other claims made on product packaging are accurate.
• Nearly 40 per cent of consumers prefer products that have been verified by a third party.

The USDA Process Verified Seal indicates that the USDA has audited the company's processes behind claims made on the product's packaging – so consumers know they can trust it. Perdue's USDA Process Verified programmes include 'All Vegetarian Diet', 'No Animal Byproducts' and 'Raised Cage Free.

"We feed our birds the finest natural grain products, including corn, soybeans and marigolds, with no animal by-products," says Perdue. Products carrying the 'Raised Cage Free' claim are verified to come from birds that are free to move about within temperature-controlled chicken houses.

To educate consumers about USDA process verification and label claims they may find on poultry products, Perdue has created an online destination [click here]. The site also features an opportunity to enter the Perdue Verifiably Good video contest, an online search for the best techniques for cooking and preparing chicken. The contest begins today, 1 February 2011, and the winner will receive a cash prize and coupons for a year's worth of Perdue chicken products. For full details, including Official Rules, visit the web site.

Products carrying the seal can be found at retailers carrying PERDUE® fresh, all natural whole chickens and bone-in parts as well as PERDUE® FIT & EASY® boneless, skinless chicken products, Ground Chicken, Cornish Hens, PERFECT PORTIONS® boneless chicken, OVEN STUFFER® Roaster & Parts, and OVEN READY cook-in-the-bag products.