Participants of a new study conducted by Bristol University preferred the taste of intensively farmed ‘battery’ chickens to organic ones. The researchers gave ten samples from 120 chickens which had been reared in various ways.

The result is absolutely no surprise. We love fat, that is why we have such a problem with obesity in this country, so of course we would prefer the taste of the much fattier battery chicken! These chickens cannot move and are fed high energy foods, so they are the chicken equivalent of a couch potato living off Big Macs and large fries. Fat and unhealthy. Yummy!

It’s also worth pointing out that Paul Warriss, who lead the study, is intricately involved with the meat industry.  He has produced many reports about welfare and best practice in rearing, transporting and slaughtering animals.  At first glance, it would look like he was actually concerned about the welfare of animals, but look a little deeper and it becomes obvious this is not true, his main concern is the relation between stress and the quality of the meat.

I’m sure the result of this study is music to the ears of the poultry industry who will be delighted to produce more of what the public apparently wants; disgustingly cheap chicken. Let’s hope there are people with enough sense and compassion to see that raising chickens under these conditions is cruel and eating it is about as unhealthy a meal you can get.