Green Meat: An Unpleasant Side Effect of Modern Chicken Farming
Have you ever experienced the surprise of cutting into a chicken breast during dinner, only to find green meat inside?
If so, you may have encountered a modern chicken farming side effect known as green muscle disease. This increasingly common condition causes the muscle fibers in a chicken’s breast to turn green, often going unnoticed until it’s time to enjoy a meal.
But what exactly causes green muscle disease, and why has it become so widespread?
GROWN TOO FAST:
Between 1957 and 2005, chickens raised for their meat quadrupled in size due to selective breeding. They grow to their slaughter weight in just 6 weeks, and their legs often struggle to support their own body weight.
BRUISED MUSCLES:
When chickens’ breast muscles grow too large, they no longer get the blood supply they need. When chickens flap their wings and exercise these muscles, this lack of blood supply causes muscle death. This bruising causes the muscle to turn green.
OTHER DISEASES:
While green meat might be an unpleasant surprise, it is not the only side effect of fast-growing chicken breeding. In fact, millions of chickens die prematurely in the U.S. every year.
As they struggle under the weight of their bodies, fast-growing chickens often lie in their own feces and urine. Many are unable to reach their food and water, while others die from infectious diseases, organ failure, and other conditions exacerbated by stress.
For some, selective breeding will even cause “spaghetti meat,” a phenomenon in which chickens’ breasts become stringy and pull apart.
NO PROTECTION:
Many of the worst cruelties to farmed animals are completely legal in the U.S. Separating mothers and babies shortly after birth, extreme confinement, and mutilations without anesthesia are all common in the meat, dairy, and egg industries. There are currently no U.S. federal laws that protect animals in factory farms.
Even the Humane Slaughter Act, which provides a few protections for farmed animals during slaughter, is rarely enforced. This means illegal cruelty to animals is generally unpunished. To make matters worse, the Humane Slaughter Act doesn’t apply to chickens and other birds.
Consumers are often unaware of the abuse, neglect, and extreme confinement in the global chicken meat industry. Many companies advertise their products as “humane,” knowing that Americans would never tolerate it if they knew the truth.
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
Give the gift of compassion
This season is about giving the gift of compassion—multiplied! For a limited time, a generous supporter will match your donation to Animal Equality, multiplying your impact on ending animal cruelty. Together, we can create a kinder world for animals.
If green meat doesn’t sound appetizing to you, you’re in luck: there are plenty of satisfying, plant-based alternatives to meat, dairy, and eggs.
Whether you’re looking for readymade, plant-based chicken tenders or fresh, whole food staples, you can find everything you need at your local supermarket.
In case you’re unfamiliar with plant-based eating, Love Veg has compiled a ton of free resources to get you started on your journey. From gourmet recipes to quick, easy, weeknight options, Love Veg has you covered!
LIVE KINDLY
With rich emotional lives and unbreakable family bonds, farmed animals deserve to be protected.
You can build a kinder world by replacing animal food products with plant‑based ones.
