This is another example of the high price of "low-cost" commercial farming.
In a recent article, Dr. Mercola discussed the problems with rotisserie chicken from Costco.
Although he discusses Costco's rotisserie chicken specifically, I would not be surprised if the problem may be common to many, if not most of similar products from other large commercial chains.
The reason is that much of the farming techniques used to grow these chickens for Costco are part and parcel of big commercial farming (CAFO farming).
First, understand the term CAFO farming
When you see him reference the term "poultry CAFO," the term "CAFO" means "concentrated animal farming operation."
Like this:
Keep THIS picture in mind as you read on.
The main points, from Dr. Mercola's article summary:
Costco sells rotisserie chicken for $4.99 and will go to great lengths to maintain this ultralow price. The company opened its own poultry CAFO in Fremont, Nebraska, to have better control over the size of the broilers
There are steep, hidden costs to CAFO chicken, including environmental costs, human health costs and ethical considerations
Current-day CAFO chickens contain more fat than protein and have lower amounts of omega-3 fats and higher omega-6 than they used to. Previous research has linked diets high in omega-6 to a rise in obesity
Another significant hazard linked to CAFO chicken is the spread of antibiotic-resistant disease, specifically urinary tract infections (UTIs), including drug-resistant UTIs, which are on the rise
Studies have conclusively demonstrated that a majority of UTIs are caused by exposure to contaminated chicken; American, Canadian and European studies have all confirmed close genetic matches between drug-resistant E. coli collected from human patients and those found on poultry
The high cost of eating low-priced foods.
As the article points out, CAFOs are a main contributor to many problems, including environmental pollution and antibiotic-resistant disease.
Also, according to a 2018 article in The Atlantic, entitled "who's farm is it, anyway?," Sally Lee (from The Rural Advancement Foundation) says
“A farmer has to invest over $1 million just to get set up—a lot of debt to carry when you’re paid on average between 5 cents and 6 cents per pound of chicken produced,”
Studies show CAFO chicken is a major source of urinary tract infections
According to Dr. Mercola,
Drug-resistant E. coli strains from supermarket meat were matched to strains found in human E. coli infections as early as 2005{1} Research{2} published in 2006 confirmed that humans could develop antibiotic resistance by eating poultry treated with antibiotics.
Bacteria from conventional chicken, and those who ate such chicken, were found to be more prone to developing resistance against Synercid (generic names: quinupristin and dalfopristin3), a strong antibiotic used to treat vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium.4
In short, handling and/or eating antibiotic-treated chicken can cause you to develop resistance to the last lines of defense currently available in the modern medicine cabinet — a steep price for inexpensive meat.
Life in the foodchain
You can read all about the details of this problem in Dr. Mercola's in-depth article about it here.
But in summary, this is what he says about it:
Unfortunately, chicken production in the U.S. has become an industry that places profits over just about everything else, including animal welfare and farmers' rights.
Overall, the evidence is clear: CAFO chicken is best avoided if you're concerned about your health, the environment and/or animal welfare. If you do want chicken now and then, I recommend making sure it's organically raised and pastured.
Organic, free-range chickens are allowed to engage in their natural behavior in a natural environment (outdoors), and can serve an important role in regenerative agriculture and holistic land management. The lack of stress and access to a natural diet, fresh air and sunshine make for healthier birds that don't need antibiotics.
Another option is to forgo the chicken meat and just eat the eggs — again making sure they're from hens raised organically on pasture. Keep in mind that when it comes to labels such as "free-range" and "natural," there are loopholes that allow the commercial egg industry to call eggs from their industrial egg laying facilities "free-range," so don't be fooled.
Thoughts from Cogny here
God built this world, with rules in place. Every action has a consequence.
I was listening to a conversation with Dr. Peter McCollough yesterday (it was a private conversation, to be released soon in a podcast) where he was talking about how it seems the best treatments for recovering from the vaccine spike proteins and their effects are coming from natural treatments.
Surprise, surprise.
If you can, eat free-range chickens. Or avoid the chicken and eat the eggs.
Free-range chickens and eggs come from hens that roam freely outdoors on farmlands and pastures. They do what God made chickens to do: forage for their natural food like seeds, insects and worms.
Visit a local farmers market if you can. Local is best, and probably the easiest route to finding high-quality chicken and eggs that will do you more harm than good.