When buying chicken breasts at the store, you may notice thin white streaks running parallel to the grain of the meat.What do these stripes actually mean and do they affect the quality of the meat?.
According to experts, this is not a health-threatening phenomenon, but white stripes can be an indicator of meat quality.These streaks are made of fat that is produced naturally during the growth of the chicken.The more such streaks the meat contains, the lower its quality can be, as the presence of fat streaks can indicate faster and more intense growth in chickens, often supported by high feed intake.
Kelsey Keener, a chicken farmer at Sequatchie Cove Farms in Tennessee, reports that chickens raised for rapid growth, fed mainly corn and soy, are more likely to develop white streaks.Conversely, organic chickens, which grow at a slower rate, tend to have fewer or no stripes.
The rapid growth of chickens, typical of modern industrial farming, means that the journey from a day-old chick to an adult chicken takes only six to eight weeks.This method of breeding also brings with it a certain degree of reduction in the quality of the meat, manifested by white stripes.
However, the health risks associated with the consumption of such meat are not significant.White stripes do not mean that the meat is dangerous or diseased.Although studies suggest that meat with these stripes may contain a slightly higher proportion of fat, it is still a low-fat source of protein suitable for most dieters.
Consumers should be vigilant when choosing meat in the store, but the presence of white stripes should not be the only criterion for their decision.Although streaking can affect the appearance and texture of the meat, it is still a safe and nutritious product.
