Why turkey is not the main dish for Thanksgiving?

Experts warn that a virulent new strain of bird flu could spread to humans. Cooking a turkey can adequately kill bacteria and viruses, but even a little of what makes you ill can lurk on cutting boards and utensils and thus spread to hands or foods that won’t be cooked.

Do people eat turkey other than Thanksgiving?

88\% of Americans surveyed by the National Turkey Federation eat turkey on Thanksgiving. 46 million turkeys are eaten each Thanksgiving, 22 million on Christmas and 19 million turkeys on Easter.

Why do people eat turkey on Thanksgiving instead of chicken?

Moreover, there were pragmatic reasons for eating turkey rather than, say, chicken at a feast like Thanksgiving. The birds are large enough that they can feed a table full of hungry family members, and unlike chickens or cows, they didn’t serve much utilitarian purpose like laying eggs or making milk.

How turkeys are killed for Thanksgiving?

Many turkeys are slaughtered without being stunned at all. In the processing plant, turkeys are shackled by their legs and hung upside-down. The turkeys’ throats are slit on a circular blade before being placed in a scalding tank meant to loosen feathers. If turkeys are not properly stunned, they often miss the blade.

What is better than turkey for Thanksgiving?

If you’ve got a smaller gathering but still love the drama of a whole roasted bird, consider springing for a whole duck. Ducks are even easier — and far faster — to roast than a turkey. And don’t forget to stuff the cavity of the bird with garlic and rosemary to impart even more flavor to the bird and potatoes.

How many turkeys are eaten every year?

Here’s why some birds cost so much less than others. Some 40 million turkeys are eaten for Thanksgiving every year. Insider shows how turkeys get on our plates and finds out why some cost more.

How many turkeys are killed for Thanksgiving?

46 million
Like chickens, the estimated 245 million turkeys raised and killed for their flesh every year in the U.S. have no federal legal protection. More than 46 million of them are killed each year at Thanksgiving alone, and more than 22 million die at Christmas.