Turkey vs. Chicken: Overview
Chicken and turkey are both poultry meats that provide a healthy protein source.
Protein is a crucial part of your diet. Protein is within every aspect of your body - muscles, skin, hair, cells, and enzymes. Protein helps your body to heal and build new tissues or cells.1
Eating appropriate protein amounts is essential to life.1
This article dives into the main differences and similarities between turkey and chicken and explains their nutritional facts and benefits.
Both chicken and turkey provide healthy protein. Generally, chicken tends to be higher in vitamin B6 and pantothenic acid, and turkey tends to be lower in calories, fat, and sodium while having more zinc, niacin, and vitamin B12.
Key Insights on Poultry Consumption
Over the past twenty years, poultry has become the world’s most consumed animal protein source. Poultry meat includes chicken, turkey, duck, and geese. Chicken and turkey make up the largest portion of poultry consumption globally and in the United States.2
Global poultry imports reached 14.2 million metric tons in 2021 and are expected to grow to 17.5 million by 2031. Pork and beef are increasing steadily but still lower than poultry.2
In the United States, the USDA reports that the average adult ate 96.8 pounds of chicken in 2021. Americans eat chicken almost double that of beef and pork.3
Americans eat less turkey than chicken at about 15.3 pounds per person in 2021. Interestingly, turkey consumption has doubled since 1970 as more people use ground turkey instead of ground beef.4
Poultry consumption has increased for various reasons – it is more affordable than beef, has a quicker growing time than other animals, and has some nutritional positives.
