Butterball ingredients: what's banned overseas?

About Butterball

Butterball is the best-selling turkey brand in the US, owned by Butterball LLC (a joint venture involving Seaboard and Maxwell Farms). It sells whole turkeys, ground turkey, deli meats, frozen turkey burgers, and turkey sausages at grocery chains and mass retailers across the US. Butterball holds approximately 20% of the US turkey market.

Common concerns with Butterball products

Butterball whole turkeys injected with a 'flavor enhancement solution' contain up to 8% solution of water, salt, sodium phosphates, and natural flavor — meaning a single serving delivers significantly more sodium than unenhanced turkey. Deli turkey from Butterball contains sodium nitrite and sodium erythorbate as preservatives. Turkey sausages contain BHT in some varieties. The flavor-enhancement injections in whole birds are a notable concern as consumers may not realize they're purchasing sodium-injected meat.