# Butterball turkeys are full of chemicals! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 19, 2012, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butterball-turkeys-are-full-of-chemicals/644523 "2012-12-19T13:46:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butterball-turkeys-are-full-of-chemicals/644523/1 "2012-12-19T13:46:11Z")
According to a conversation I just overheard by one of my fellow cubicle dwellers. Although he’s eaten them for years, he has just been informed that they are full of all kinds of nasty chemicals, and therefore he will no longer be buying them. This information was provided by a member of our environmental protection group who grew up on a farm, so it must be true. So lookout. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butterball-turkeys-are-full-of-chemicals/644523/2 "2012-12-19T13:55:59Z")
So after finding out more info he prefers to eat a more naturally raised bird as opposed to a factory farmed one? Boy, he’s got some nerve! ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butterball-turkeys-are-full-of-chemicals/644523/3 "2012-12-19T14:03:38Z")
Don’t know about the “full of chemicals” case, but Butterball has been accused of, and some of their people convicted of, cruelty to animals. According to Wikipedia: > [@](#): > > Animal welfare activists such as Mercy for Animals, the Humane Society of the United States and PETA have accused Butterball of animal cruelty.[10][11][12] These organizations cite intentional cruelty inflicted on the birds, as well as the incidental cruelty inherent in the slaughter methods used, and the breeding practices which produce animals too large to reproduce without human intervention. > > In October of 2012, a Mercy for Animals investigator documented a pattern of abuse and neglect at numerous Butterball turkey operations in North Carolina. The investigation revealed workers kicking and stomping on birds, dragging them by their wings and necks, and throwing turkeys onto the ground or on top of other birds; birds suffering from serious untreated illnesses and injuries, including open sores, infections, and broken bones; and workers grabbing birds by their wings or necks and violently slamming them into tiny transport crates with no regard for their welfare.[13] > > This investigation occurred less than one year after a Mercy for Animals undercover investigation into a different Butterball turkey facility led to five workers being charged with criminal cruelty to animals. Mercy for Animals’ 2011 investigation at a Butterball turkey factory farm in Shannon, Hoke County, North Carolina revealed Butterball workers violently kicking and stomping on birds, dragging them by their wings and necks, slamming them into transport crates, and leaving turkeys to suffer from serious untreated injuries and infections.[14] As a result of the investigation, North Carolina officials raided the facility and arrested several employees.[15] > > In August of 2012, Butterball worker Brian Douglas pled guilty to felony cruelty to animals—marking the first-ever felony conviction for cruelty to factory-farmed birds in United States history.[16] [17] Several days later, another Butterball employee, Rueben Mendoza, pled guilty to misdemeanor cruelty to animals and felony identity theft.[18] The cases against the other Butterball employees are pending. > > In addition to the felony cruelty conviction, MFA’s investigation at Butterball uncovered government corruption. Dr. Sarah Jean Mason, the director of Animal Health Programs with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, was arrested and pled guilty to obstruction of justice charges after admitting to warning Butterball about the raid by law enforcement and potentially compromising the criminal cruelty investigation.[19] > **[Butterball](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butterball)** > > Butterball is a brand of turkey and other poultry products produced by Butterball LLC. The company manufactures food products in the United States and internationally—specializing in turkey, cured deli meats, raw roasts and specialty products such as soups and salads, sandwiches, and entrées. > Butterball LLC was a joint venture of Smithfield Foods and Maxwell Farms Inc., an affiliate of the Goldsboro Milling Co. Seaboard Corporation bought Smithfield's stake in Butterball in 2010. The company se... ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butterball-turkeys-are-full-of-chemicals/644523/4 "2012-12-19T14:07:37Z")
What types of chemicals is he concerned with? There are no FDA approved growth hormones or steroids for turkeys available. [http://urbanext.illinois.edu/turkey/turkey\_faqs.cfm](http://urbanext.illinois.edu/turkey/turkey_faqs.cfm) ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butterball-turkeys-are-full-of-chemicals/644523/5 "2012-12-19T14:13:19Z")
This site claims 2% solution of sodium or potassium phosphate is injected into Butterball: > **[Chemicals injected in Butterball turkey- eat or not eat?](https://www.mothering.com/threads/chemicals-injected-in-butterball-turkey-eat-or-not-eat.1176079/)** > > MIL is visiting and wanted to shop for the christmas dinner groceries and cook the turkey. We requested one of the many brands of natural and free range birds they have here in our grocery store. We specifically said "don't get a Butterball, they... The phosphates (actually a variety of similar chemicals) are used as preservatives, texturizers, and leavening agents, and are in a lot of other foods everyone probably eats. It doesn’t seem, from this, as if Butterball is “full of” noxious chemicals. This blogger accuses Butterball of factory farming, which implies antibiotics and hormones, bjut doesn’t seem to actually show that there’s harmful stuff in a Butterball Turkey. Or if it’s significantly different from any non-local free-range bird: > **[Time To Mothball The Butterball!](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/time-to-mothball-the-butt_b_143647)** > > There are some not-so-wonderful aspects to Butterball's signature product -- in a concession to our obsession with big breasts, American turkey breeders created an avian abomination. so a quick search doesn’t confirm to me that Butterball is “full of chemicals” ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butterball-turkeys-are-full-of-chemicals/644523/6 "2012-12-19T15:37:19Z")
That L-Tyrptophan will kill ya! ---
**Author:** ![Cats\_pajamas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@Cats\_pajamas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cats_pajamas)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butterball-turkeys-are-full-of-chemicals/644523/7 "2012-12-19T15:51:23Z")
The run-off into potable water of farm poultry feces, including turkeys, is what would really scare the general public. Food conglomerates spend a lot of money making sure this crisis is never fully reported, and that your Butterball gushes with liquid as soon as you begin carving it. That’s what people remember, those damn TV commercials. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butterball-turkeys-are-full-of-chemicals/644523/8 "2012-12-19T15:54:33Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > so a quick search doesn’t confirm to me that Butterball is “full of chemicals” So turkeys are _not_ full of chemicals? :dubious: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butterball-turkeys-are-full-of-chemicals/644523/9 "2012-12-19T15:57:29Z")
Oh noes! I’m full of chemicals too! ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butterball-turkeys-are-full-of-chemicals/644523/10 "2012-12-19T15:59:29Z")
I don’t worry about these things because my body is mostly chemicals. You probably wouldn’t believe the amount of dihydrogen monoxide I have in me. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butterball-turkeys-are-full-of-chemicals/644523/11 "2012-12-19T16:04:16Z")
Hey…I’d rather have a turkey " full of chemicals"…than a free range turkey that’s been eating bugs, carrion, dung, etc. Cook well and wash yer hands! ---
**Author:** ![Weirofhermiston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e274bd/32.png) [@Weirofhermiston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirofhermiston)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butterball-turkeys-are-full-of-chemicals/644523/12 "2012-12-19T16:19:34Z")
Consider ignorance fought here, until now I never realised turkeys even had balls. ---
**Author:** ![fumster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@fumster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fumster)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butterball-turkeys-are-full-of-chemicals/644523/13 "2012-12-19T16:29:27Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > This site claims 2% solution of sodium or potassium phosphate is injected into Butterball: > > [Chemicals injected in Butterball turkey- eat or not eat? | Mothering Forum](http://www.mothering.com/community/t/1176079/chemicals-injected-in-butterball-turkey-eat-or-not-eat) > The phosphates (actually a variety of similar chemicals) are used as preservatives, texturizers, and leavening agents, and are in a lot of other foods everyone probably eats. It doesn’t seem, from this, as if Butterball is “full of” noxious chemicals. I’m about as anti-woo as anyone, but poultry and pork that have things like you mentioned above in them suck. They taste salty, but not in a good way. They also have a weird texture that is a little like ham and give off lots of moisture when they cook and make it hard to brown. Your pitting is pretty weak. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butterball-turkeys-are-full-of-chemicals/644523/14 "2012-12-19T16:30:29Z")
> [@Weirofhermiston](#): > > Consider ignorance fought here, until now I never realised turkeys even had balls. The butter balls are the best part of the turkey!! I wonder if butter balls are like butter beans? ---
**Author:** ![Gedd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gedd/32/4938_2.png) [@Gedd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gedd)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butterball-turkeys-are-full-of-chemicals/644523/15 "2012-12-19T16:52:16Z")
Quick, name a food that _isn’t_ full of chemicals. ---
**Author:** ![A\_Dodgy\_Dude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a87d85/32.png) [@A\_Dodgy\_Dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_Dodgy_Dude)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butterball-turkeys-are-full-of-chemicals/644523/16 "2012-12-19T16:55:59Z")
They are also full of turkey-flavored deliciousness. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butterball-turkeys-are-full-of-chemicals/644523/17 "2012-12-19T17:02:56Z")
Did the co-worker return to his Diet Coke after the conversation? ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butterball-turkeys-are-full-of-chemicals/644523/18 "2012-12-19T17:10:35Z")
> [@Gedd](#): > > Quick, name a food that _isn’t_ full of chemicals. Tofu? I’m pretty sure it’s made of ooze left over from the big bang that never coalesced into atoms. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butterball-turkeys-are-full-of-chemicals/644523/19 "2012-12-19T17:16:25Z")
> [@fumster](#): > > I’m about as anti-woo as anyone, but poultry and pork that have things like you mentioned above in them suck. They taste salty, but not in a good way. They also have a weird texture that is a little like ham and give off lots of moisture when they cook and make it hard to brown. Your pitting is pretty weak. I agree. I prefer the results I get from brining at home. I am not sure if it is because the turkey it self is just better or if the home bringing process is better. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butterball-turkeys-are-full-of-chemicals/644523/20 "2012-12-19T17:18:40Z")
Better not tell your cubicle mate that the stuff coming out of the faucet is chock full of Dihydrogen Monoxide chemicals. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butterball-turkeys-are-full-of-chemicals/644523.md?page=2)