Why is organic chicken better than regular

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated September 16, 2024

Contributions sourced from

Nutrition and healthy eating

Organic foods: Are they safer? More nutritious?

Discover the difference between organic foods and their traditionally grown counterparts when it comes to nutrition, safety and price.
By Mayo Clinic Staff

Once found only in health food stores, organic food is now a common feature at most grocery stores. And that's made a bit of a problem in the produce aisle.

For example, you can pick an apple grown with usual (conventional) methods. Or you can pick one that's organic. Both apples are firm, shiny and red. They both provide vitamins and fiber. And neither apple has fat, salt or cholesterol. Which should you choose? Get the facts before you shop.

What is organic farming?

The word "organic" means the way farmers grow and process farming (agricultural) products. These products include fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy products such as milk and cheese, and meat. Organic farming practices are designed to meet the following goals:

Improve soil and water quality
Cut pollution
Provide safe, healthy places for farm animals (livestock) to live
Enable natural farm animals' behavior
Promote a self-sustaining cycle of resources on a farm

Materials or methods not allowed in organic farming include:

Artificial (synthetic) fertilizers to add nutrients to the soil
Sewage sludge as fertilizer
Most synthetic pesticides for pest control
Using radiation (irradiation) to preserve food or to get rid of disease or pests
Using genetic technology to change the genetic makeup (genetic engineering) of crops, which can improve disease or pest resistance, or to improve crop harvests
Antibiotics or growth hormones for farm animals (livestock)

Organic crop farming materials or practices may include:

Plant waste left on fields (green manure), farm animals' manure or compost to improve soil quality
Plant rotation to keep soil quality and to stop cycles of pests or disease
Cover crops that prevent wearing away of soil (erosion) when sections of land aren't in use and to plow into soil for improving soil quality
Mulch to control weeds
Insects or insect traps to control pests
Certain natural pesticides and a few synthetic pesticides approved for organic farming, used rarely and only as a last choice and coordinated with a USDA organic certifying agent

Organic farming practices for farm animals (livestock) include:

Healthy living conditions and access to the outdoors
Pasture feeding for at least 30% of farm animals' nutritional needs during grazing season
Organic food for animals
Shots to protect against disease (vaccinations)

Organic or not? Check the label

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has set up an organic certification program that requires all organic food to meet strict government standards. These standards control how such food is grown, handled and processed.

Any product labeled as organic on the product description or packaging must be USDA certified. If it's certified, the producer may also use an official USDA Organic seal.

The USDA says producers who sell less than $5,000 a year in organic food don't need to be certified. These producers must follow the guidelines for organic food production. But they don't need to go through the certification process. They can label their products as organic. But they can't use the official USDA Organic seal.

Products certified 95 percent or more organic may display this USDA seal.

The USDA guidelines describe organic foods on product labels as:

100% organic. This label is used on certified organic fruits, vegetables, eggs, meat or other foods that have one ingredient. It may also be used on food items with many ingredients if all the items are certified organic, except for salt and water. These may have a USDA seal.
Organic. If a food with many ingredients is labeled organic, at least 95% of the ingredients are certified organic, except for salt and water. The items that aren't organic must be from a USDA list of approved additional ingredients. These also may have a USDA seal.
Made with organic. If a product with many ingredients has at least 70% certified organic ingredients, it may have a "made with organic" ingredients label. For example, a breakfast cereal might be labeled "made with organic oats." The ingredient list must show what items are organic. These products can't carry a USDA seal.
Organic ingredients. If a product has some organic ingredients but less than 70% of the ingredients are certified organic , the product can't be labeled as organic. It also can't carry a USDA seal. The ingredient list can show which ingredients are organic.

Does 'organic' mean the same thing as 'natural'?

No, "natural" and "organic" are different. Usually, "natural" on a food label means that the product has no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. "Natural" on a label doesn't have to do with the methods or materials used to grow the food ingredients.

Also be careful not to mix up other common food labels with organic labels. For example, certified organic beef guidelines include pasture access during at least 120 days of grazing season and no growth hormones. But the labels "free-range" or "hormone-free" don't mean a farmer followed all guidelines for organic certification.

Organic food: Is it safer or more nutritious?

Some data shows possible health benefits of organic foods when compared with foods grown using the usual (conventional) process. These studies have shown differences in the food. But there is limited information to prove how these differences can give potential overall health benefits.

Potential benefits include the following:

Nutrients. Studies have shown small to moderate increases in some nutrients in organic produce. Organic produce may have more of certain antioxidants and types of flavonoids, which have antioxidant properties.
Omega-3 fatty acids. The feeding requirements for organic farm animals (livestock) usually cause higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids. These include feeding cattle grass and alfalfa. Omega-3 fatty acids a kind of fat are more heart healthy than other fats. These higher omega-3 fatty acids are found in organic meats, dairy and eggs.
Toxic metal. Cadmium is a toxic chemical naturally found in soils and absorbed by plants. Studies have shown much lower cadmium levels in organic grains, but not fruits and vegetables, when compared with crops grown using usual (conventional) methods. The lower cadmium levels in organic grains may be related to the ban on synthetic fertilizers in organic farming.
Pesticide residue. Compared with produce grown using usual (conventional) methods, organically grown produce has lower levels of pesticide residue. The safety rules for the highest levels of residue allowed on conventional produce have changed. In many cases, the levels have been lowered. Organic produce may have residue because of pesticides approved for organic farming or because of airborne pesticides from conventional farms.
Bacteria. Meats produced using usual (conventional) methods may have higher amounts of dangerous types of bacteria that may not be able to be treated with antibiotics. The overall risk of contamination of organic foods with bacteria is the same as conventional foods.

Are there downsides to buying organic?

One common concern with organic food is cost. Organic foods often cost more than similar foods grown using usual (conventional) methods. Higher prices are due, in part, to more costly ways of farming.

Food safety tips

Whether you go totally organic or choose to mix conventional and organic foods, keep these tips in mind:

Choose a variety of foods from a mix of sources. You'll get a better variety of nutrients and lower your chance of exposure to a single pesticide.
Buy fruits and vegetables in season when you can. To get the freshest produce, ask your grocer what is in season. Or buy food from your local farmers market.
Read food labels carefully. Just because a product says it's organic or has organic ingredients doesn't mean it's a healthier choice. Some organic products may still be high in sugar, salt, fat or calories.
Wash and scrub fresh fruits and vegetables well under running water. Washing helps remove dirt, germs and chemical traces from fruit and vegetable surfaces. But you can't remove all pesticide traces by washing. Throwing away the outer leaves of leafy vegetables can lessen contaminants. Peeling fruits and vegetables can remove contaminants but may also cut nutrients.

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox

Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview.

ErrorEmail field is required

ErrorInclude a valid email address

To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.

Thank you for subscribing!

You'll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox.

Sorry something went wrong with your subscription

Please, try again in a couple of minutes

April 22, 2022

Organic production and handling standards. U.S. Department of Agriculture. https://www.ams.usda.gov/publications/content/organic-production-handling-standards. Accessed March 30, 2022.
Introduction to organic practices. U.S. Department of Agriculture. https://www.ams.usda.gov/publications/content/introduction-organic-practices. Accessed March 30, 2022.
Organic labeling at farmers markets. U.S. Department of Agriculture. https://www.ams.usda.gov/publications/content/organic-labeling-farmers-markets. Accessed March 30, 2022.
Labeling organic products. U.S. Department of Agriculture. https://www.ams.usda.gov/publications/content/labeling-organic-products. Accessed March 30, 2022.
Use of the term natural on food labeling. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/food/food-labeling-nutrition/use-term-natural-food-labeling. Accessed March 30, 2022.
Demory-Luce D, et al. Organic foods and children. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed March 30, 2022.
Pesticides and food: Healthy, sensible food practices. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.epa.gov/safepestcontrol/pesticides-and-food-healthy-sensible-food-practices. Accessed March 30, 2022.
Vegetable and pulses outlook: November 2021. U.S. Department of Agriculture. https://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/pub-details/?pubid=102664. Accessed March 30, 2022.
Changes to the nutrition facts label. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/food/food-labeling-nutrition/changes-nutrition-facts-label. Accessed March 30, 2022.
Rahman SME, et al. Consumer preference, quality and safety of organic and conventional fresh fruits, vegetables, and cereals. Foods. 2021; doi:10.3390/foods10010105.
Brantsaeter AL, et al. Organic food in the diet: Exposure and health implications. Annual Review of Public Health. 2017; doi:10.1146/annurev-publhealth-031816-044437.
Vigar V, et al. A systematic review of organic versus conventional food consumption: Is there a measurable benefit on human health? Nutrients. 2019; doi:10.3390/nu12010007.
Mie A, et al. Human health implications of organic food and organic agriculture: A comprehensive review. Environmental Health. 2017; doi:10.1186/s12940-017-0315-4.
Innes GK, et al. Contamination of retail meat samples with multidrug-resistant organisms in relation to organic and conventional production and processing: A cross-sectional analysis of data from the United States National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System, 2012-2017. Environmental Health Perspectives. 2021; doi:10.1289/EHP7327.

See more In-depth

Organic Chicken vs Regular Chicken: A Comparison

Chicken labels, facts, nutrition and tastes between organic and regular chicken can get confusing. Therefore, lets examine the difference between them.

Organic chicken must be fed 100% organic feed, raised with no antibiotics and must have outdoor access. Regular chickens are unrequired to be fed organic, are allowed to be treated with antibiotics and unrequired to have outdoor access. Organic chicken is more expensive and labeled with the USDA Organic Seal.

Ill examine if there are any differences in nutrients, taste and texture between organic and regular chicken. This breakdown will help you make the most informed decision when choosing one or the other.

What Makes Organic Chicken Organic

Organic and regular chicken in a frying pan

As a Certified Health Coach many clients ask me about food comparisons including chicken. Also, I purchase and consume it every week. Therefore, I have researched this topic in the past and present. Lets examine both types closely.

Organic Feed

Organic chickens are only allowed to eat 100% certified organic feed. This includes organically produced grains, additives, forages and feed supplements. Water additives, minerals and vitamins must be FDA approved.

Antibiotics, animal by-products, synthetic preservatives and GMO derived products are not permitted in any feed products. Any agricultural substances like soy oil or molasses must be certified organic.

The feed must be free of animal drugs or hormones to promote growth. Any kitchen or garden scraps must also be certified organic.

Organic Housing

Living conditions must provide the following:

Adequate ventilation.
Adequate supply of clean water.
Housing must provide access to the outdoors, shade, shelter, fresh air and direct sunlight all year.
Adequate protection from predators.
Exercise areas.
Bedding like hay or straw must be certified organic.
Chickens cannot be confined in a way to prevent lying down, standing up, extending the limbs fully and moving about freely.
Outdoor access can be restricted due to inclement weather or conditions which would jeopardize the health or safety of the chicken.

Organic chicken farms require annual inspections. Although chickens are required to have access to the outside, the standards do not tell farmers exactly how much room the chickens need to have access to.

Treated lumber may not be used for construction contacting the soil or chickens.
For slaughter, a certified organic slaughter facility must be used.
The land used for pasturing must qualify for organic certification.

Organic Healthcare

Chickens must be provided with the opportunity to exercise, have freedom of movement and reduction of stress.
Preventive vaccines and other veterinary biologics are allowed.
Performing physical alterations when needed for the chickens welfare is allowed, taking care to minimize pain and stress.
Withholding medical treatment to maintain organic status is not allowed.
Labeling chicken as organic treated with antibiotics, a synthetic substance not on the National list or any prohibited non-synthetic substance is not allowed.

Organic chicken must be from a chicken which was under continuous organic management from no later than its second day of life. The chicken must be labeled with the term 100% organic or Organic and contain the USDA organic seal.

What Makes Regular Chicken Regular

Regular chickens do not have to have outdoor access. They may be confined indoors and inside battery cages. These cages houses more than one chicken inside the cage with very little room for movement.

They receive less exercise and dont experience much sunlight.

Regular chickens may be given antibiotics to help keep them healthy or to treat them for illness. Regular chickens do not receive any hormones, although no chickens are allowed to be given hormones since the 1950s.

Due to their living conditions, regular chickens are more susceptible to infections and diseases. This may result in more antibiotic use. In addition, these chickens are more likely to be more aggressive and experience more stress.

A regular chicken may not be confined indoors. A free-range chicken, although they are not organic and consume regular feed, have access outdoors like an organic chicken does. In addition, a regular chicken may be antibiotic free, but not fed organic feed.

Raw regular chicken breasts on a platter

Organic Chicken vs Regular Chicken Nutrient Comparison

Organic chicken and regular chicken contain a similar number of minerals and vitamins. Their protein content is also the same. The difference between organic and regular chicken is the amount of fat contained in the skin((SFGATE: Organic Vs. Free-Range Chicken)).

Approximately, organic chicken contains 5-13% less fat in the skin than regular. Although once the skin is removed, both chickens have similar fat content.

Some previous studies determined organic chicken contained slightly more fatty acids than regular chicken. Even though, the number of omega-3 is a small number to begin with and doesnt give organic much of an advantage((National center for Biotechnology Information: Free Dietary Choice and Free-Range Rearing Improve the Product Quality, Gait Score, and Microbial Richness of Chickens)).

Lets take a close look at which one is more nutritious.

Organic and regular chicken contains a similar number of minerals, vitamins and protein. Organic chicken contains less fat in the skin but once the skin is removed both contain a similar number of fats.

A study by Stanford University, released in 2012, found little evidence of health benefits from organic foods.

Organic and Regular Chicken Tastes and Textures

Most studies indicate there is no difference in taste and texture between organic and regular chicken. In blind taste tastes, the participants showed no preference between the two types of chicken.

Some studies, where the participants already knew which chicken was which, organic chicken tasted better to most people.

Since organic chicken contains more fat in the skin, the difference in taste may be greater if the skin is left on the chicken compared to skinless.

My Own Poll and Taste Test at Home

I wanted to conduct original research and get the opinion of real people like you. Therefore, I contacted my clients, readers and members of food groups I belong to. I asked them which of the two chicken types they preferred.

59% said they preferred the taste of organic.
19% said they preferred the taste of regular.
22% said they had no preference, or it didnt matter.

I set up a blind test taste at home. Four people were given a skinless chicken breast of each type. They were both cooked and seasoned the same way.

Three of the four, 75%, chose the organic chicken over the regular. Therefore, organic was the winner in my poll and blind taste test.

Substituting One for the Other

Organic chicken and regular chicken can substitute for each other in recipes. The taste and texture are similar and the same cooking methods can be used for both types of chicken.

When substituting one chicken for the other, follow these tips:

Always use the same part of the chicken required in the recipe.
Use the same weight of the chicken.
If the recipe calls for skin or skinless, keep the same for the substitute chicken.
Keep the cooking temperatures and time the same.

Organic Vs Regular Chicken: Prices

When you are purchasing any kind of chicken, be sure to check the label to see if the chicken is organic or regular. This makes a difference with cost. In addition, your area, store and brand of chicken changes the price.

Organic chicken is 36% more expensive than regular chicken. The average cost for organic chicken is $7.82 per pound while the average cost for regular chicken is $5.76 per pound.

I visited and checked my local Shoprite supermarket and found the following prices for organic and regular chicken:

Organic boneless, skinless chicken breast
Organic boneless, skinless, thin sliced chicken breast
Organic boneless, skinless chicken tenders
Regular boneless, skinless chicken breast
Regular boneless, skinless, thin sliced chicken breast
Regular boneless, skinless chicken tenders

Organic chicken will always cost more than regular chicken, and it has good reason for this increased price. Raising organic chickens is more time consuming and resource intensive than raising regular chickens.

The soil, land, structures and feed all cost more to maintain and purchase.

In Walmart I checked the prices of canned cooked regular chicken versus organic. The organic costs around $8 for one 5 oz can versus regular canned chicken of the same size costing only around $2.

As you can see there is a significant price difference in most organic versus regular chicken items. This will remain the same no matter what store you go to.

Dangers Of Antibiotics In Chicken

Injecting chickens with antibiotics may make the chickens drug resistant which means bacteria will still be able to survive in the chickens after being treated with medication. The bacteria can then be transferred to humans when consumed.

According to the CDC, more than 600,000 people a year develop an antibiotic-resistant infection each year from something they ate. This may be a good time to evaluate if organic is better for you.

Organic chicken is better than regular chicken due to its never treated with antibiotics or any drugs. Organic chicken is fed with healthier organic feed and is allowed access outdoors living with less stress. Organic chicken skin contains less fat, saturated fat and calories than regular chicken skin.

Organic Vs Hormone Vs Antibiotic-Free Vs Chicken

Even though youll see hormone free on chicken labels, its been illegal to be given to chickens in the United States since the 1950s. This is for good reason as it is simply unnecessary.

Hormones do differ from antibiotics though, as we know it is illegal to give chicken hormones, but what about antibiotics?

Antibiotics in chickens as of January 2017 are illegal for simply the intent of them gaining weight and can only be used for addressing diseases. Therefore, chickens can still be given antibiotics but not nearly as much as they used to. They even have to go to a withdrawal period before they are used for food.

So now we know hormones are illegal, and antibiotics are used sparingly for diseases. In addition, all organic chicken is hormone and antibiotic free versus regular chicken where they possibly may have been previously treated with antibiotics((SFGATE: The Benefits of Organic Free-Range Chicken)).What does free-range chicken mean? Are all chickens free-range?

Free Range & Organic Versus Caged & Regular Chicken

All organic chickens are free-range but not all free-range chickens are organic((USDA: Agricultural Marketing Service)).

Caged chickens, sadly, have poor living conditions like smaller enclosures which cause their stress levels to be higher making the chickens more aggressive. Due to not having to let the caged chickens roam, they spend more time in their cages which get dirtier faster.

This can result in an increased risk of infections and the use of antibiotics.

Free-range chickens dont necessarily have better living conditions. Yes, most of the time they are allowed more room since they are able to go outside but the standards dont say how much room they have to be allowed.

Therefore, it could just be a small fenced off area without grass, depending on the farmer.

Organic chicken must be free-range, but as we know might not mean much depending on the farmer. Regular chicken is not required to be free-range.

Therefore, while we dont always know the conditions, we can hope that organic/free-range chicken is treated better and can be supported when organic is bought.

Frozen Organic Vs Regular Chicken

Though most organic chicken doesnt come frozen, it comes fresh and its okay to freeze it. Frozen chicken is safe to eat as long as it is kept at the right (frozen) temperature up to 12 months. As far as taste and quality goes it is best to be eaten after 3-4 months.

Regular chicken can be sold as fresh or frozen. Though regular frozen chicken is usually cheaper than regular fresh chicken and their nutritional values appear to be similar.

Frozen chicken does stay good longer than fresh and despite common myths, frozen chicken is not more processed than fresh, regular chicken.

If you have any questions to ask me about this article dont hesitate to comment below or email us. You can find an email on our contact page.