Chicken is the most widely available organic meat and also the most popular, according to the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center. It can easily be found at conventional supermarkets, as well as natural food stores. California, Pennsylvania and Iowa were the top three producers of organic broilers in 2008, with nearly 31 million being marketed.
Definition
Chickens can carry the United States Department of Agriculture “organic” label if they are at least 95 percent organic. Organic refers to the way foods are grown, handled and processed. For example, the Mayo Clinic notes that conventional farmers might give animals antibiotics, growth hormones or medications to prevent disease and enhance their growth. An organic farmer would use organic feed, give animals a chance to get outdoors and rotate grazing areas to help minimize disease.
Nutrition
Just because a chicken is marked organic, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s healthier for you. The Mayo Clinic notes that there is no conclusive evidence that foods produced organically are any more nutritious than foods grown or raised by conventional methods. The USDA may put an organic label on some products, but it doesn’t say they’re safer or more nutritious. And don’t confuse “natural” with “organic.” The USDA label applies only to organic foods.
Appearance
If you don’t see the label, you probably won’t be able to tell an organic chicken from a chicken raised by conventional farming methods. The Mayo Clinic points out that conventionally-raised chickens must meet the same quality and safety standards as organic birds. The difference lies in how the animals are raised and handled. However, you may want to serve the two kinds of chickens a bit differently. According to the Mayo Clinic, pesticide residue tends to collect in the fat of chickens that are raised by conventional means. So, if you don’t buy organic, you may want to remove the skin from the chicken if you’re concerned about pesticides in your food.
Taste
There’s no consensus on whether organic chickens taste better. Some people think they do, while others don’t see a difference. According to the Mayo Clinic, it may be more important to check the freshness label on the chicken than the organic label. It notes that freshness may have the biggest impact on taste.
Cost
If you’ve ever shopped for organic foods, you know they tend to cost more. That’s because organic farming practices tend to be more expensive than conventional ones. If an organic farmer isn’t using herbicides and pesticides, he may have to use more costly, labor-intensive means to grow feed and control pests. The USDA notes that organic chicken farmers may also have smaller flock sizes, higher mortality rates in their chickens and longer production cycles for broilers.
Environment
If you’re trying to get more “green” in your life, be sure to look for that organic label. Organic farmers use practices that help to reduce pollution and conserve water and soil. The USDA’s National Agricultural Library states that organic agriculture “enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity,” and uses “management practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony.”
