What does “fresh” on the label of a poultry product really mean?
For consumers, “fresh” means whole poultry and cuts have never been below 26 F. Below 26 F, raw poultry products become firm to the touch because much of the free water is changing to ice. At 26 F, the product surface is still pliable and yields to the thumb when pressed. Most consumers consider a product to be fresh, as opposed to frozen, when it is pliable or when it is not hard to the touch. Fresh poultry should always bear a “keep refrigerated” statement.
