Perdue Launches New SIMPLY SMART® Chicken

SALISBURY, Md., Sept. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As consumers are becoming savvier and increasingly concerned with understanding the ingredients in their food, Perdue Farms Incorporated today introduced SIMPLY SMART® chicken, a convenient frozen food option designed to meet the growing demand for products that are both healthy and flavorful.  This line of grilled, lightly breaded and roasted chicken products deliver the nutrition and great taste that naturally comes from real, simple and recognizable ingredients, such as sea salt, unbleached wheat flour, cracked black pepper and olive oil.

Perdue's line of SIMPLY SMART® chicken is made with whole cuts of chicken breast and includes Original Roasted Chicken Chunks, Original Grilled Chicken Strips, Lightly Breaded Chicken Chunks, Lightly Breaded Chicken Strips, and Lightly Breaded Chicken Filets.

Each item in the line has been carefully developed to not only taste great but to have at least 40% fewer calories, at least 50% less fat and at least 25% more protein than the USDA standard for breaded fried boneless chicken.  The 2010 USDA Dietary Guidelines recommend that consumers eat more lean protein, and with more than 16 grams** of protein per serving, this product line provides an excellent source.  

"Through outside research and focus groups we learned that consumers are looking for minimally processed, natural ingredients with no preservatives, and they want to know where their food is coming from," said Tom Mertensotto, vice president of ready-to-eat marketing / new ventures.  "Our SIMPLY SMART® product line gives consumers the transparency they are looking for along with a healthier frozen food option that still tastes great."

PERDUE® SIMPLY SMART® lightly breaded chicken products are made with 65% less breading, resulting in 40% fewer calories and a minimum of 50% less fat than the USDA data for breaded fried boneless chicken. The PERDUE® SIMPLY SMART® lightly breaded chicken products are the only lightly breaded items in frozen fully cooked chicken.

The PERDUE® SIMPLY SMART® Original Roasted Chicken Chunks represent a new form in the frozen chicken category providing consumers with a larger piece of chicken breast meat than current diced offerings.  This form was significantly preferred by consumers in head to head sensory testing vs. current diced offerings for taste, appearance and overall liking.  

Bonnie Taub-Dix, MA, RD, CDN, a former national spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association and Director and Owner of BTD Nutrition Consultants offers the following tips for enjoying your next nutritious and delicious meal:

• A 3-ounce portion of PERDUE® SIMPLY SMART® chicken provides a powerhouse of lean protein as the leanest part of the chicken is the breast meat.
• Many of the names appearing on ingredient lists are hard to pronounce, let alone understand. It's best to choose foods that have short ingredient lists including words that are simple, recognizable, and real.
• PERDUE® SIMPLY SMART® chicken can be used in just about any recipe as a low fat, low cholesterol substitute in place of other meats.  

Each item in the PERDUE® SIMPLY SMART® product line is made with only white meat chicken, 100% all natural* ingredients, is an excellent source of protein and contains no preservatives.

Because each PERDUE® SIMPLY SMART® chicken item is not only simply nutritious but also tastes great, they are the perfect addition to your favorite recipes.  For delicious recipe suggestions, visit www.perdue.com/simplysmart.

PERDUE® SIMPLY SMART® is available now at local supermarket stores for a suggested retail price of $9.49 for each item in the line: Original Roasted Chicken Chunks (22 oz bag), Original Grilled Chicken Strips (22 oz bag), Lightly Breaded Chicken Chunks (24 oz bag), Lightly Breaded Chicken Strips (24oz bag) and Lightly Breaded Chicken Filets (24 oz bag).

To join in the conversation about Perdue, visit us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/PerdueChicken or on Twitter at @PerdueChicken.  PERDUE® SIMPLY SMART® chicken can also be found in WEIGHT WATCHERS® online foods database.

About Perdue Chicken

The PERDUE® brand is the number-one brand of premium fresh chicken in the United States. In fact, we’re recognized as the first poultry company to successfully brand chicken, and we’re now the first with USDA Process Verified Programs for our fresh, all-natural chicken. The PERDUE® brand also extends across a growing roster of better-for-you food products, combining Perdue’s reputation for quality with convenience. At Perdue, “We Believe In A Better Chicken.”™

*Minimally processed; no artificial ingredients.

**Varies by product

SOURCE Perdue

WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?

440k+
Newsrooms &
Influencers

9k+
Digital Media
Outlets

270k+
Journalists
Opted In

GET STARTED