When it comes to poultry preferences, we all have our personal favorite: white turkey meat or dark turkey meat. And theres no time like holidays to debate which is best.
You might dig into the plentiful pile of turkey breast, which is typically considered the “healthier” choice. You can probably eat more turkey that way, right?
Or maybe you gravitate toward the thigh meat or enter into the who-gets-one-of-the-drumsticks lottery. Both parts are widely regarded as the moister choices.
Well leave the debate of which is tastier for the Thanksgiving table, but Emma Willingham, clinical dietitian at Houston Methodist, is here to answer whether one cut of meat is really healthier than the other.
Turkey is a popular poultry option that graces many dinner tables, especially during the holidays. But there is often confusion around whether turkey should be classified as a white meat or a red meat. This article will examine how meats are categorized look at the evidence on both sides, and provide the official stance from authoritative sources.
How Meats Are Classified
Meats are typically divided into two main categories
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White meats – This includes chicken, turkey, fish, and other pale meats.
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Red meats – This refers to beef, pork, lamb, and other meats from mammals
The distinction generally comes down to two factors:
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Myoglobin content – Myoglobin is the protein responsible for delivering oxygen to muscles. Red meats have higher levels, giving them their reddish color.
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Color before and after cooking – White meats stay pale, while red meats get darker with cooking.
So by these definitions, turkey, with its pale pink flesh, lower myoglobin content, and light color when cooked, would be considered a white meat. However, it’s not that clear cut.
The Gray Area of Turkey
While turkey is clearly in the poultry family, classifying it gets murky when looking beyond just color. Here are some reasons turkey doesn’t neatly fit the white meat category:
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Turkey legs and thighs are darker and fattier than breast meat. This makes them similar to chicken dark meat, which some call a red meat.
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Ground turkey often contains dark meat and skin, giving it a pinkish color even when cooked.
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Higher myoglobin than chicken – Turkey contains more myoglobin than chicken, though less than beef.
So turkey seems to land in a gray area between white and red meats. But most official sources still firmly categorize it as a white meat.
Official Classifications
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), all poultry including chicken, turkey, duck and goose are considered white meats. Red meats only come from mammals.
The National Turkey Federation also classifies turkey as a white meat, stating it’s “low in fat and high in protein.”
Nutritionally, turkey does fit the white meat profile:
- 85% leaner than ground beef
- Higher in protein than chicken or beef
- Low in fat, especially saturated fat
So while some turkey parts appear to straddle the line, turkey overall is still considered a healthy white meat.
The Red Meat Debate
The “red vs white” distinction came about in the 1970s when the poultry industry promoted chicken and turkey as “white meats.” This smartly distanced them from red meat, which was being linked to heart disease.
But today, the science on red meat is less clear. Recent studies question warnings about red meat risks. Some experts argue the red/white categories are meaningless.
When looking at nutrients, fat, and protein, the differences between individual cuts of poultry, pork, and beef are often minor. So focusing on “red” or “white” is less useful than looking at quality, leanness, and preparation of all meats.
The Bottom Line on Turkey
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Turkey is a lean, low-fat protein compared to red meats.
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Meats with more fat can fit into a healthy diet in moderation. Focus on quality, not color.
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Opt for minimally processed, unsalted turkey and all meats when possible.
While the old “red vs white” labels may be outdated or misleading, turkey remains one of the healthier choices. Its lower fat and mild flavor make it an easy, versatile substitute when cooking lighter entrees. But balance, variety and moderation are key for any healthy diet.
So is turkey considered a red or white meat? The technical answer is white, but its nutritional properties put it somewhere in the middle. As long as you don’t just eat turkey every day, it can be a healthy part of a balanced diet.
What’s the difference between white meat and dark meat?
The main difference between white meat and dark meat is where on the bird the meat comes from.
“The darker the meat, the more myoglobin it contains,” says Willingham. “Myoglobin is the protein found in muscle tissue that carries oxygen. In turkeys and chickens, dark meat is sourced from the leg or thigh. These animals carry more myoglobin in these locations in order to help deliver oxygen to their muscles as they run around. They need their exercise, too!”
White meat includes:
- Breast meat
- Breast tenders
- Wings
Dark meat includes:
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FAQ
Is turkey healthier than red meat?
Both turkey and beef are good choices for your daily protein intake. While turkey gives you less cholesterol, beef is going to give you a higher amount of iron.
Is turkey considered red or white meat?
Chicken and turkey breasts are traditionally considered “white” meat, but in some nutritional contexts, the dark meat from poultry and turkey legs are lumped together into the “white” category, even though they are compositionally quite different.
What meats are not red meat?
Red meat refers to beef, veal, lamb, mutton, pork, goat and venison. It does not include chicken, turkey, goose, duck, game and rabbit.
Which is healthier chicken or turkey?
What’s healthier, chicken or turkey? Rundown : Chicken is higher in calories and fats, including saturated and polyunsaturated, while turkey is higher in protein and cholesterol. Turkey is additionally more abundant in nutrients and minerals like magnesium, copper, vitamin B12, and folate.
What is the difference between Turkey and red meat?
Both turkey and chicken are poultry-based sources of protein. This means that their meat comes from birds. On the other hand, red meat is flesh from mammals. This includes beef — which comes from cows — and pork — which comes from pigs. Most diets strongly recommend prioritizing poultry and plant-based protein sources over red meat.
What are the effects of only eating red meat?
Red meat has more saturated fat, which is one of the factors responsible for raising cholesterol levels. Consecutively increases the risk of suffering from heart disease, development of hypertension and a possible heart attack. There is already a study linking the consumption of red meat with damage to the health of the intestine, mainly with the development of a condition called diverticulitis, an inflammation.
Is turkey meat a white meat or red meat?
The classification of turkey meat as white or red meat has implications for nutrition and health. If turkey meat is classified as white meat, it will be considered to be a healthier option than red meat. This is because white meat is lower in fat and calories than red meat.
Is turkey meat healthier than red meat?
If turkey meat is classified as white meat, it will be considered to be a healthier option than red meat. This is because white meat is lower in fat and calories than red meat. However, if turkey meat is classified as red meat, it will be considered to be less healthy than white meat.
Which meat is considered red meat?
Generally, meat from mammals such as cows and calves, sheep, lamb and pigs is considered red meat, while rabbit, chicken, and turkey meat is considered white meat. Which is healthier chicken or turkey?
Is Turkey a healthy cut of meat?
Minerals like selenium and phosphorus are also found in turkey. So while all poultry contains both white and dark meat, the white meat is considered the healthier cut. Red meats like beef, pork and lamb differ from turkey in a few key ways: Red meats contain more myoglobin and appear redder. They contain more fat, especially saturated fat.