Health advocacy group says local chicken is tainted

A new billboard near the intersection of Southwestern Boulevard and McKinley Parkway is warning consumers about the cleanliness of the chicken they eat.

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a health advocacy group, says a study of chicken samples sold in ten area stores revealed over half contained feces. The group shipped samples to an independent lab. 

Enlarge image

"We wanted to make a controversial billboard to let consumers know there's feces on Buffalo chicken," said registered dietician Joseph Gonzalez.

Gonzalez says the situation is not unique to Buffalo.

The dietician says that not enough health inspectors are deployed to properly scan the nine billion chickens that are slaughtered and sold in the United States each year. He says inspectors are asked to examine chickens at a rate of 140-per-minute.

Gonzalez says the group intentionally installed the billboard near Ralph Wilson Stadium.

"Football fans eat an enormous amount of chicken wings and other unhealthful foods, as we know, during game day. The point is to let football fans and other people going to the stadium know that this is a big problem," Gonzalez told WBFO News.

Here are the group's findings:

Fecal Contamination of Chicken Products in 10 Buffalo-Area, N.Y. Stores

Store

Location

Chicken Products with Fecal Contamination

Dash’s Market  

Hertel Avenue, Buffalo

70%

Colvin Boulevard, Tonawanda 

50%

PriceRite

Walden Avenue, Cheektowaga

90%

Kenmore Avenue, Buffalo

70%

Save-A-Lot

Broadway Street, Buffalo

60%

Genesee Street, Buffalo

40%

Target  

Delaware Avenue, Buffalo

80%

Walden Avenue, Cheektowaga

70%

TOPS 

Jefferson Avenue, Buffalo

70%

Seneca Street, Buffalo

30%