5 Disadvantages of Organic Chicken

Disadvantages of Organic Chicken

There is so much to say regarding the organic status of the chicken we consume!

While we are all looking at being better consumers with our choice of products and being more mindful of our ethical food choices, we can often overlook the disadvantages of purchasing and consuming organic produce, some of which may shock you!

As consumers, we are conditioned to the chicken products we commonly see on supermarket shelves; stacked deep in plastic packaging in every cut and variety you can imagine.

So when it comes to switching to organic chicken, we can sometimes be left feeling that it is somewhat different, but with no clue as to why…

However, just because something has disadvantages attached to it doesn’t mean we should avoid it, such as in the case here of organic chicken; it just means we have to be more aware of why things may be a little different from what we would consider “normal.”

The Disadvantages of Organic Chicken

So how actually does organic chicken differ from the chicken you find “stacked high, sold cheap” on supermarket shelves?

It May Have a Higher Price Point

The price of chicken can be a huge consideration for most people. 

Chicken prices are especially pertinent when you can find so many different cuts of “regular” chicken in abundance among supermarkets, seemingly as cheap as the chips you may put it with! 

There’s no denying that the cost of anything is a serious consideration in these modern times.

Organic chicken, or organic anything for that matter, will likely hold a higher price point than regular mass-produced chicken, as it has the organic certification and has been produced under the rigorous organic standards to rear the chicken. 

Organic is generally a more expensive process.

It May Be Smaller In Size

Organic chicken tends to be smaller in size than the mass-produced chicken you commonly find stacked on supermarkets shelves.

But why is this the case? 

Organic chicken has not been “pumped” full of anything artificial to encourage and enhance the chicken’s growth, including water and GMOs. This means that the organic chicken you will find will be present in its naturally raised state. 

The smaller size of the chicken may actually come as a bit of a surprise if you are used to the humungous chicken pieces you find in plastic packs in meat aisles.

While the meat that originates from organically reared chickens may be smaller in size, you may find that it has a more intense chicken flavour. This means that you unlikely need a more considerable quantity to satisfy the overall chicken flavour, as we look at in the next point!

It May Have A Stronger Poultry Taste

While having stronger tasting meat may not appear an immediate disadvantage, it may taste “odd” if you are accustomed to the bland flavour of commercially produced chicken.

Commercially produced chicken can be somewhat watered-down due to the amount of water and additives introduced to it. This can really diminish the flavour of what chicken should actually taste like. 

However, as our taste buds grow accustomed to believing this is the way chicken should taste, moving across and trying organic chicken can be a slight shock to the taste buds!

It is Produced Using No Antibiotics

Organic chicken is farmed without using any antibiotic intervention. While this may not be immediately a consumer issue of concern, we have to trace it back a little to understand how this affects the way we find organic chicken.

When there are no antibiotics involved in the chicken production, the farmers who rear the animals have no sufficient control over any disease and infection of the birds themselves.

No antibiotics may make it really difficult to health-control a flock of chickens, which may mean that the farms have to replenish the birds or even whole collections of poultry before the product comes out of the other side for consumers.

This can obviously increase the price point for consumers.

It May Spoil Quicker

When organic chicken is produced, the organic standards state that there are no added preservatives or additives to the chicken product, both throughout its rearing and in the production phase, which means that the end product can still be classed and certified as organic to the consumer.

With this being the case, you may find that organic chicken spoils a little faster than the chicken packaged in a protective atmosphere and with added preservatives (which usually make the product last longer on the supermarket shelves).

With that being said, the most appropriate course of action is only to buy organic chicken when you are looking to use it, to make sure that you don’t let it go to waste.

The other thing you can do to make sure your chicken does not spoil is to prepare the chicken in a meal and freeze the meal for another day.

The Last Cluck

Overall, we can see that there are actually quite a few (well, 5!) disadvantages concerning organic chicken.

While some of these disadvantages might not immediately affect you as the consumer, it’s essential to know why some organic elements are the way they are and what makes the chicken officially organic.

As consumers, we have become conditioned to many elements of mass-produced products, and mass-production is driven by the cost of meat and a high level of demand. 

So when we consider organic chicken in place of the cheap meat (the chicken we can so easily pick up in supermarkets off the shelves), we can become a bit perplexed at the size, flavour, and overall experience of the organic poultry simply because it’s not what we are used to!

Regardless of the disadvantages of organic chicken, you may find that it is the best choice for you. On the opposite side of the coin, you may find that organic chicken doesn’t quite fit your poultry needs.

Organic chicken is a personal choice, and if it fits you, then great! 

As long as you know about what is driving your chicken choices, it will never be the wrong choice for you!

Stacy F

Stacy is a UK Based lifestyle writer who writes in the food and nutrition niches, as well as within the health and wellness sectors. She is a mum of 4 and married to a musician, so sustainability and a pinch of humour are absolutely essential to get over every one of life's obstacles!

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