As we gear up for another delicious Thanksgiving feast, there’s one sight that can cause panic – those black spots surfacing on the turkey skin. While your first reaction may be to panic, there are a few things to know about these spots that can help put your mind at ease.
What Causes These Black Spots on Turkeys?
The leading cause of black spots on turkeys is actually a parasite called Histomonas Meleagridis. This single-celled parasite is carried by a worm known as Heterakis, which is relatively harmless on its own Heterakis worm eggs can be ingested by earthworms, allowing the parasite to survive underground for years.
When turkeys come into contact with the infected earthworms, they ingest the Heterakis eggs These eggs then hatch inside the turkey, releasing Histomonas The parasite spreads to the liver, causing significant damage that appears as black spots on the skin.
While unsightly it’s important to note that these black spots do not indicate spoilage or make the turkey unsafe to eat. It is purely a cosmetic condition.
How to Prevent Black Spots on Your Turkey
While parasitic black spots are naturally occurring and difficult to control completely, there are a few things you can do to reduce the risk:
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Select farm-raised heritage breed turkeys – Modern broad-breasted turkeys are more prone to blackhead disease. Opting for heritage breeds raises on small farms can lower the risk.
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Avoid overcrowding – Preventing overcrowding reduces contact with infected droppings and lowered immune response.
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Use raised roosts – Elevated roosts prevent contact with droppings-infected soil.
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Keep litter clean and dry – Change out wet litter frequently to prevent parasitic egg growth.
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Rotate pastures – Rotating turkeys to new pastures prevents buildup of worm eggs.
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Give turkeys access to grass – Grass contains an antiprotozoal called chlorophyll that fights parasites.
What to Do if Your Turkey Has Black Spots
If your fresh or thawed turkey does end up having black spots, don’t panic. They pose no safety risk. Here’s what to do:
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Inspect the meat – Check the breast meat and leg meat for spots. If they are only superficial, the turkey is fine to cook.
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Remove any visible spots – Use a paring knife to slice away any protruding spots on the skin. This is just an aesthetic fix.
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Cook as normal – Roast your turkey to 165°F as normal. The parasites pose no risk to human health.
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Enjoy your holiday! – Carve and serve your turkey like you normally would. These spots won’t affect taste.
Can You Eat a Turkey with Black Spots?
The USDA confirms that blackhead disease is not a food safety threat. The parasites that cause it are turkey-specific and cannot be transmitted to humans.
So while the black spots may look unsavory, you can safely eat a turkey affected by them. Simply carve around any remaining dark blemishes after cooking. The rest of the meat will be totally safe, healthy, and delicious!
Key Takeaways on Black Spots on Turkeys
Here are a few key points to remember about those pesky black spots that can show up on fresh and thawed Thanksgiving turkeys:
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They are caused by a parasite called Histomonas spread through worm eggs.
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While unappetizing, they do not indicate spoilage.
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The parasites pose no food safety risk for humans.
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You can prevent them through good turkey farming practices.
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If they show up, simply cut away visible spots and cook as normal.
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The turkey meat is still 100% safe to eat and enjoy!
So this Thanksgiving, don’t let some harmless spots ruin your holiday. Follow turkey handling best practices, remove any visible blemishes, and dive into that juicy roasted bird. The only thing those spots affect is appearance – your turkey meat will be as delicious as ever!
What is FDA doing about the lack of approved drugs against blackhead disease in poultry?
The National Turkey Federation asked FDA to determine if controlling blackhead disease in turkeys qualifies as a “minor use in a major species.” Based on information provided to the agency by the federation and on information from other references, FDA’s Office of Minor Use and Minor Species Animal Drug Development determined that using a drug to control mortality caused by blackhead disease in flocks of turkeys diagnosed with the disease qualifies as a minor use. Because of this assessment, any drug company or other group that is pursuing an approval of a new animal drug for this specific use is entitled to various incentives, including user fee waivers, grants, exclusive marketing rights, and eligibility for conditional approval.
Lifecycle and Signs of Disease
The lifecycle of the protozoa H. meleagridis is complex:
- The protozoa multiply in an infected bird’s cecum, a part of its digestive tract;
- They move to the bird’s intestines where the roundworm H. gallinarum lives;
- The roundworm eats the protozoa;
- The roundworm’s eggs become infected with the protozoa;
- The bird sheds the protozoal-infected roundworm eggs in its droppings.
Healthy birds become infected when they eat food, invertebrates (such as earthworms), or bird droppings that are contaminated with the protozoa. Direct bird-to-bird transmission can also occur within a flock. Because chickens, partridges, and pheasants commonly have the roundworm in their intestines, they often are the source of the protozoal infection for other birds.
Birds with blackhead disease are usually listless and have drooping wings, unkempt feathers, and yellow droppings. Typically, the cecum and liver of an infected bird will become inflamed and develop ulcers. Young birds become sick quickly and usually die within a few days after signs appear. The disease develops more slowly in older birds and they often become emaciated and may eventually die.
Turkeys are highly susceptible to blackhead disease. Once a turkey flock has been infected, 70 to 100% of the birds may die. In one survey, U.S. turkey industry professionals reported at least 50 outbreaks of the disease each year since 2009.1 Blackhead disease is less severe in chickens but can lead to poor health and reduced egg production.
Histostat (nitarsone), an arsenic-based animal drug, was the only FDA-approved drug to prevent blackhead disease in poultry. But in 2015, the drug company voluntarily stopped marketing Histostat and asked FDA to withdraw the drug’s approval due to concerns about inorganic arsenic levels in birds treated with the drug. Currently, there are no animal drugs approved to prevent, treat, or control blackhead disease in the U.S.
More Information on the withdrawal of Histostat (nitarsone):
BEST NATURAL TREATMENTS TOTHE DEADLY BLACKHEAD DISEASE IN TURKEYS AND CHICKENS
FAQ
What does it mean when your turkey has black spots?
What are the black spots on deli turkey?
How to tell if raw turkey is bad?
What are the dark red spots in turkey?
Do turkeys have black spots on their skin?
Although domestically raised turkeys are usually white, some breeds have darker feathers. This pigmentation can leave black or brown spots behind on the skin after the turkey is plucked. Sometimes, traces of the pinfeathers are left behind as well. These are harmless, and you can prepare and eat the turkey as planned.
What causes black marks on dark skin?
Black marks on the dry skin can be caused due to hyperpigmentation in which body starts producing more melanin which then starts depositing over the face and other areas of the body.
Why does my Turkey have dark spots?
These spots are from the plucking of the feathers. The color of the feathers results in the color of the spots. Since most store-bought turkeys have white feathers, they usually have lighter spots. You might not even notice them since the turkey skin is also white. If your turkey had darker feathers, you’ll probably notice the dark spots.
Are black spots on a Turkey edible?
This pigmentation can leave brown or black spots on the skin, even after plucking. Turkeys with white feathers will often have pinfeathers on the carcass as well. However, due to their lighter color, the spots are less noticeable. The dark spots are harmless, and the turkey will still be edible even if you leave them alone.