Is organic chicken worth the price?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't want to hijack this thread, but can a consumer assume that organic chicken was treated better while it was alive? If not, what should I be looking for? I don't really care about "organic" per se, but do want to start putting my money toward more humane, and preferably more environmentally sustainable, agricultural practices.

No. You cannot. If you don't have the time or inclination to actually visit farms yourself, meat sold at Whole Foods comes with an animal welfare rating. Don't know how reliable it is, but it's better than nothing.

[Anonymous]

I don't think my palate is anything special but I can definitely tell the difference in chicken. For example, Harris Teeter brand chicken breast is disgusting.

[Anonymous]

I do buy the best chicken we can find, because we can afford it and because we set so much chicken. I usually get Bell and Evans or the 365 organic chicken -- the organic chicken at Costco has had too many complaints and violations for me to be comfortable with it.

I grew up in Texas, and knew some hobby cattle ranchers. Grass or grain finished, many cows spend most of their lives happy, eating grass and hay. I'm comfortable with beef.

When I read Temple Grandin's book about chickens, I was horrified. She wae horrified, and said that if she had started her career with chickens indstead of cattle, she probably would not have continued but would have found other work. Since then, we get organic chicken only.

[Anonymous]

I pay more for chicken when it looks as though it involved less cruelty-- sometimes Giant stocks Bell and Evans for example.

[Anonymous]

To me it is if I'm doing something like a roast chicken or a spice rub on thighs or drumsticks because I do think organic tastes better. If I'm just throwing some chicken breasts into a stir fry or burritos I usually don't bother with organic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes! Yes! Yes! I buy organic everything I possibly can!!

I've been reading about Round UP, how toxic it is, now it's believed to cause cancer, and it's in EVERYTHING because it's the most used chemical in the past 30 years because Monsanto lied to everyone and told us it was safe!

Now Round Up is being linked to the autism epidemic, and I'm inclined to believe it's among the culprits.

I pay more for organic food, eat less food overall, but it's worth it for my family and for the environment. 100 years ago there was no such thing as "organic" food because everything was organic!

But, OP, not all organic is alike. I buy my chickens from a farmer who is not certified organic, but she does not use any pesticides or any chemicals on her animals or on their feed. They are grass fed, no grains, no hormones, they live outside. They cost more than the chickens I buy at Whole Foods, but they are so worth it!! The taste is fantastic, and they are better for the Earth, and the birds are not mistreated during their lives.

Grass fed chicken???? LOL!!!! A chicken won't eat grass...you should ask yourself how bullshitted you're getting I wonder what she's REAL feeding her chicken...

[Anonymous]

I saw a program about a French lady who raises very expensive chickens that are solely vegetable fed. These super exclusive chicken are picked up by super exclusive restaurants to be served to their super exclusive clients. Apparently the taste is just divine

[Anonymous]

For those who mentioned buying their chicken from local farms - where specifically do you get it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those who mentioned buying their chicken from local farms - where specifically do you get it?

You can join a farm share, but I'd start at your local farmer's market first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I saw a program about a French lady who raises very expensive chickens that are solely vegetable fed. These super exclusive chicken are picked up by super exclusive restaurants to be served to their super exclusive clients. Apparently the taste is just divine

That's just stupid. Chickens will eat just about anything that's offered to them but they naturally want protein foods such as seeds and insects. A purely vegetable diet is low in protein and not ideal for raising a healthy chicken.

[Anonymous]

We think good-quality organic chicken is worth the price. It tastes better. Not all organic chicken tastes better, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes! Yes! Yes! I buy organic everything I possibly can!!

I've been reading about Round UP, how toxic it is, now it's believed to cause cancer, and it's in EVERYTHING because it's the most used chemical in the past 30 years because Monsanto lied to everyone and told us it was safe!

Now Round Up is being linked to the autism epidemic, and I'm inclined to believe it's among the culprits.

I pay more for organic food, eat less food overall, but it's worth it for my family and for the environment. 100 years ago there was no such thing as "organic" food because everything was organic!

But, OP, not all organic is alike. I buy my chickens from a farmer who is not certified organic, but she does not use any pesticides or any chemicals on her animals or on their feed. They are grass fed, no grains, no hormones, they live outside. They cost more than the chickens I buy at Whole Foods, but they are so worth it!! The taste is fantastic, and they are better for the Earth, and the birds are not mistreated during their lives.

Grass-fed chickens? Seriously?! Chickens naturally eat insects and grubs. They do not eat grass.
Also, just because you read something on the internet does not make it true. I'm not saying that Roundup doesn't cause autism and cancer, but there are no reliable data or studies that make that connection.

+1. Monsanto says Roundup is safe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't want to hijack this thread, but can a consumer assume that organic chicken was treated better while it was alive? If not, what should I be looking for? I don't really care about "organic" per se, but do want to start putting my money toward more humane, and preferably more environmentally sustainable, agricultural practices.

No. You cannot. If you don't have the time or inclination to actually visit farms yourself, meat sold at Whole Foods comes with an animal welfare rating. Don't know how reliable it is, but it's better than nothing.

+1. This is why I don't buy regular bacon at Safeway or wherever. I am not sure about hormones, organic, etc, but I do care about the treatment of farmed animals. I don't want to support raising pigs (who are as smart as dogs) so miserable that they chew their neighbor's tail off. I try do buy meat less often, but locally and humanely raised.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes! Yes! Yes! I buy organic everything I possibly can!!

I've been reading about Round UP, how toxic it is, now it's believed to cause cancer, and it's in EVERYTHING because it's the most used chemical in the past 30 years because Monsanto lied to everyone and told us it was safe!

Now Round Up is being linked to the autism epidemic, and I'm inclined to believe it's among the culprits.

I pay more for organic food, eat less food overall, but it's worth it for my family and for the environment. 100 years ago there was no such thing as "organic" food because everything was organic!

But, OP, not all organic is alike. I buy my chickens from a farmer who is not certified organic, but she does not use any pesticides or any chemicals on her animals or on their feed. They are grass fed, no grains, no hormones, they live outside. They cost more than the chickens I buy at Whole Foods, but they are so worth it!! The taste is fantastic, and they are better for the Earth, and the birds are not mistreated during their lives.

Grass-fed chickens? Seriously?! Chickens naturally eat insects and grubs. They do not eat grass.
Also, just because you read something on the internet does not make it true. I'm not saying that Roundup doesn't cause autism and cancer, but there are no reliable data or studies that make that connection.

All poultry is hormone-free. Always. And chickens don't eat grass.

Chickens are hormone free but they are given antibiotics to fatten them.

[Anonymous]

Some pp's seem to be suggesting that organic chicken is not commercialy farmed. I've always assumed that if I'm buying it at a grocery store, organic or not, it's coming off a commercial farm. Is this not always true? Obviously, buying it from a farm or specialtly shop is different.