Narrative reviewindependent cross-checkabstract only checked I-CHK-11 standard review
Woody breast in modern chickens
Breast muscle myopathies: twists and turns in modern broilers.
Overview
Greene ES et al.. Avian Pathol 2025 · PMID 40658058 · DOI 10.1080/03079457.2025.2533454
Muscle disorders such as woody breast are widespread in fast-growing broilers.
Does the study support the specific claim? Yes · Methodological quality: moderate
Plain-language summary
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Current knowledge on broiler breast myopathies
- How was the study done?
Expert narrative review
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
Not applicable; Modern broilers
- What was actually found?
Breast myopathies emerged at large scale; among the most significant economic and welfare challenges; no effective prevention; unknown aetiologies involving broiler genome, nutrition and management.
- How large was the observed effect?
Not applicable
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
A meat quality and welfare issue.
- What are the study's limitations?
Narrative
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Supports the observation.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
High.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
No human health data.
Scientific in-depth review
1. Full reference
- Authors
- Greene ES et al.
- Journal
- Avian Pathol
- Year
- 2025
- Identifier
- PMID 40658058 DOI 10.1080/03079457.2025.2533454
- Verification
- verified – PubMed efetch 2026-10-25
- Retracted
- no
- Corrections
- none
- Extent checked
- abstract only
- Conflicts of interest and funding
None stated
2. Research question
Current knowledge on broiler breast myopathies
3. Study design and population
- Study design
- Narrative review – Expert narrative review
- Population
Modern broilers
- Country
International
- Period
2025
- Sample size
Not applicable
- Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Not systematic
4. Methods and endpoints
- Exposure / intervention
Breeding, nutrition, management
- Comparator
Not applicable
- Endpoints
Myopathies (white striping, woody breast, spaghetti meat)
- Statistical methods
Not applicable
5. Actual results
- Results
Breast myopathies emerged at large scale; among the most significant economic and welfare challenges; no effective prevention; unknown aetiologies involving broiler genome, nutrition and management.
- Absolute risks
Not applicable
- Authors' conclusion
Frameworks for future research.
6. Strengths
- Multidisciplinary experts
7. Weaknesses
- Narrative
8. Risk of bias
- Orienting tool
- none applicable
- Type of assessment
- simplified assessment (abstract only)
- Full formal assessment
- no
- Overall risk of bias
- not assessable
- Rationale
Review.
9. Assessment of the statistical interpretation
Not applicable.
10. Relevance to the specific claim
11. Independent contrary findings
Not applicable.
12. Transferability to Germany and Europe
High.
13. Overall methodological judgement
Confirms woody breast phenomenon.
| Multidimensional assessment | |
|---|---|
| Authenticity of the source | verified |
| Methodological quality | moderate |
| Risk of bias | not assessable |
| Precision of results | not applicable |
| Directness | direct |
| Reproducibility | replicated |
| Consistency with the overall evidence | consistent |
| Regional transferability | high |
| Adequacy of the interpretation (by the archive) | not applicable |
14. Open questions
Human relevance.
15. Linked fact checks
- Because of intensive production, modern chicken breast has become 'like wood' (woody breast). – Studies supporting the claim
- Broiler chickens are not injected with hormones; the common belief about 'hormonised chicken' is wrong - the real issue is antibiotics in feed. – Studies supporting the claim