Factory farming is a faith issue. Here’s a Christian response to chlorinated chicken

The conversation around the prospect of chlorinated chicken coming to UK has primarily focused on food safety, Hadden Turner says that focus is misguided, and much more concern should be directed toward animal welfare, environmental damage and what our food choices say about our faith

Chlorinated chicken. The news has been full of stories about this strange sounding food recently, and if the sensationalist news headlines are anything to go by, our supermarket shelves might be stocked with this chicken if the US gets its way in a much-anticipated trade deal with the UK. 

Most of the commentary concerns the chicken’s safety for human consumption. Whilst this is important, I fear it has obscured other perhaps more important topics that need to be discussed — issues of animal welfare and sustainability and how we treat God’s creation.

If we view chlorinated chicken through the lenses of animal welfare and environmental care, I believe the answer to “Should Christians eat chlorinated chicken?” becomes a resounding “no”.