Perdue First Poultry Company to Receive USDA Process Verified Seal

Salisbury, Md.-based Perdue's fresh, all natural chicken products now carry the USDA Process Verified Seal, making it the first poultry company to receive this seal of verification for its practices.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture 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," said Jim Perdue, chairman of Perdue. "We believe the seal will make it easier for consumers to choose chicken products they can feel good about feeding their families."

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

- Nine out of ten (89 percent) consumers do not believe everything meat or poultry packaging and labels say or claim.

- Three-fifths (60 percent) of consumers do not know who is responsible for making sure the health and other claims made on product packaging are accurate.

- Nearly forty percent (40 percent) 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. Perdue's USDA Process Verified programs include "All Vegetarian Diet," "No Animal Byproducts" and "Raised Cage Free".

To educate consumers about USDA process verification and label claims they may find on poultry products, Perdue has created an online destination: www.PerdueVerifiablyGood.com.