Poultry Classifications Get a 21st Century Upgrade

USDA is updating the definitions for poultry classes, such as broiler or roaster, which are based on the sex and age of the bird when harvested.
When cooking poultry, chefs know choosing the right bird will affect the outcome of a final dish. That’s why most recipes call for a fryer, roaster, or other class—terms based on the age and sex of the bird and printed on poultry labels. While breeding and raising practices have improved over the years, the definitions for these terms have remained roughly the same since the 1970’s. Read more »

