The dark truth behind Costco’s organic chicken

Every time I decide to buy something that’s organic, I justify the higher price with some quick mental moral math: it’s fewer pesticides for the earth, workers, and my body. And if it’s an animal product, I assume they were given a far better life than most raised in the agricultural system.

A new investigation into a farm that supplies organic chicken for Costco, however, reveals that this last piece of that equation is not always the case. Even when a product is technically certified as "organic" and “humane.”

In his latest piece, senior Vox reporter Kenny Torrella walks us through what an undercover investigator found when he worked covertly at this chicken farm for 2.5 months. And it was pretty shocking. Kenny also thoughtfully offers ways to help address these systemic problems that keep popping up again and again on farms — no matter what companies promise.

This kind of writing is made possible by Vox Members. If you would like to support this kind of work and make more stories like this possible, please consider becoming a Vox Member today.

—Katherine Courage, deputy editor Future Perfect

Costco’s organic chicken isn’t what it seems

A disturbing new investigation reveals how easy it is for farms to subvert organic rules — and hide animal cruelty.

by Kenny Torrella

How a fringe idea about race took over the Supreme Court

by Ian Millhiser

A brief history of “colorblindness,” the idea that gutted the Voting Rights Act.

Maybe your stingy boomer parents should give you their money now 🎧

by Danielle Hewitt and Noel King

The case for early inheritance.

The ticks are winning 🎧

by Danielle Hewitt and Sean Rameswaram

It doesn’t have to be that way.

Read more >>>