With more consumers keeping an eye out for “natural” options at the grocery store, less than half of those consumers trust the natural label on food products. In fact, according to a new study conducted by the Truthful Labeling Coalition, almost three out of four consumers believe fresh chicken labeled “natural” should not include chicken that has been plumped with added saltwater or other solutions.
USDA estimates 25 percent of all ready-to-cook poultry products are enhanced with added saltwater solutions to make the meat tastier and juicier. However, this practice often winds up adding significantly more sodium to the product. For example, one serving of chicken without the added saltwater contains about 60mg of sodium. Pumped full of saltwater, that same serving can have as much as 400mg of sodium. While this practice could be considered a health concern, it also increases the product weight, so consumers pay more.