Are organic chickens better than conventional ones?
Are organic chickens better than conventional ones?
user
Well, no one really knows for sure.  It’s complicated, and depends on a variety of factors.  Conventional chickens are not allowed to roam free, for example, which can result in diet and behavior problems.  But organic chicken often comes from large commercial farms, which use intensive methods that can have some pretty serious environmental impacts.  And then there’s also the issue of access, i.e. that poor people are less likely to be able to afford organic chicken.  On the other hand, by free-ranging, organic chickens are generally exposed to a healthier, more natural environment.
assistant
Okay but for health organic is better?
user
That’s a matter of opinion.  The conclusion from one review of studies was that “among consumers, perception of healthier chickens was not correlated with actual differences in the nutrient composition of chickens.”
assistant
That was a bit confusing. Don't organic chickens have less harmful chemicals?
user
Different varieties of chickens do, but some of the differences can come from issues like how chickens are transported, fed, and slaughtered.  All of that can have effects on how well the chicken is able to metabolize the nutrients.  And of course, the source of the chicken can make a huge difference too.
assistant
okay, that makes sense.
user