Certified humane raised and handled
For starters, the chicken had access to clean food and water, according to third-party inspectors with expertise in animal welfare.
Free-range, free-roaming
The chicken has had access to the outdoors, even if that means only that the door to the chicken house was left open briefly each day.
Fresh
The carcass's internal temperature hasn't dropped below 24° F. Still, the chicken might be partly frozen.
Kosher
The chicken was prepared according to Jewish dietary laws. Salt was added as part of the process.
Natural
The chicken was "minimally processed" in a way that didn't fundamentally alter the raw product. It has no artificial ingredients, preservatives, or added color.
No antibiotics administered
Don't assume this was verified unless you also see the label "USDA organic."
No hormones
Pointless; the USDA prohibits the use of hormones in raising poultry.
USDA organic A USDA-accredited certifier has checked that the chicken company followed standards: Chickens were raised without antibiotics, ate 100 percent organic feed with no animal byproducts, and could go outdoors (though they might not have).
The above poultry terms are from Consumer Reports magazine: January 2010, ConsumerReports.org.
