Is Chicken Considered A Red Meat?

Recent headlines claim that eating chicken is just as bad (if not worse) than eating red meat. This goes against years of health advice that chicken is a better lean protein to consume on a regular basis. Does this mean you should be skipping out on meat altogether? Eating beef and chicken in the same amounts?

‘Red meat’ is usually defined as meat derived from cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, deer and horses, but could include meat from many other mammals. Most microbiological studies have been on cattle, sheep and pigs. ‘Poultry’, besides chickens, is often taken to include other birds, particularly turkeys, ducks and geese.

New research challenges the widespread belief that white meat, such as chicken, is better for cholesterol levels than red meat , such as beef, pork, or lamb. This belief relies on a variety of observational studies that have found a link between red meat intake and a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.

The scrutiny of Al Kebab Hut happened on November 30 last year. The officer’s report revealed defrosting raw chicken was found sitting on top of iceberg lettuce and more raw chicken was stored on the top shelf of the fridge, above other ready to eat foods.

What is red meat?

Red meat is not simply meat that has a red color. It refers to the meat from mammals, such as pork, beef, mutton, venison, or boar). The meat from these animals does have a red color when raw but can either turn white or still red after being fully cooked, typically paler.

Chicken meat is a type of animal protein found in poultry. Chicken meat is considered white meat, which has long been known as a healthier option for red meat like beef, pork, and lamb.

Red meat and chicken (white meat) come from different groups of meat. Therefore, no wonder why they differ in many ways, as mentioned in the table below:

Despite many key differences between red meat and chicken, they do share some similarities as well:

In conclusion, red meat is not the devil, and chicken is not always the answer. But if you want to eat healthier, leaner protein like chicken is a good thing to start. It is also worth trying red meat occasionally so that you can get enough iron for your body, and of course, enjoy the mouth-watering dishes from red meat.