Chicken, corn fed, white & dark meet
Introduction
Corn-fed chicken refers to poultry raised on a diet where corn is a primary feed component, producing meat that can range in colour from pale white to a slightly deeper brown or yellowish hue in the skin and fat due to dietary pigments (xanthophylls) from the corn. This is an animal product that must be cooked thoroughly before eating to ensure safety; it should not be consumed raw.
Corn-fed chickens often exhibit firmer texture and a subtly sweeter flavour compared with birds fed other diets. Key macronutrients include high-quality protein and varying amounts of fat—white meat (breast) is typically lower in total fat and calories, while brown meat (thigh and leg) contains more fat and slightly higher calorie content.
Micronutrients present include B vitamins (notably niacin and B6), iron, zinc, selenium and phosphorus; the fat content also contributes fat‑soluble vitamins such as vitamin A precursors and vitamin E depending on feed composition.
Nutrition Snapshot per 100g
Kcal nn kcal
Protein nn g | nn %
Fat nn g | nn %
Carbohydrates nn g | nn %
Percentages reflect this food’s Balance*
Fibre nn g
Total Sugars nn g
Saturated Fat nn g
Salt nn mg
Nutritional values are per 100g and sourced from UK CoFID data.
Carbohydrates value includes Fibre (AOAC method).
Carbohydrates value includes Total Sugars including naturally occurring sugars such as glucose, fructose, lactose or sucrose.
Balance*
The Balance value expresses how protein, carbohydrate and fat contribute to a food’s total energy.
Using CoFID data per 100g, each macronutrient is converted into energy using the standard Atwater convention (protein × 4 kcal, carbohydrate × 4 kcal, fat × 9 kcal). The energy from each macronutrient is then calculated as a percentage of the total macro energy.
This provides a simple way to see whether a food is predominantly carbohydrate-based, protein-based or fat-based.
It does not determine whether a food is “good” or “bad”, but helps visualise its macronutrient profile within a broader eating pattern.
When assessing a full meal or daily intake, portion sizes should be taken into account.
Why this matters
Understanding the structure of individual foods can help you make more confident decisions when adjusting to a health diagnosis or long-term condition.
If you are organising meals, tracking intake or reflecting on patterns, you may find the Aardelia digital journals helpful.