"The National Chicken Cooking Contest has been one of the country's premiere competitive cooking events, but the economic realities facing our industry required us to take a hard look at all our programmes, and unfortunately the Contest has been suspended," said NCC president, George Watts.

NCC continues to promote chicken, encourage greater consumption, and educate consumers about the advantages of chicken through other programs, Mr Watts said. The Food Media Seminar that has been co-sponsored by NCC and US Poultry & Egg Association is unaffected by the announcement and will continue to be held, he said.