At The Organic Butchery, one of our core principles is simple: if we label something organic, it must meet the highest organic standards in full - not almost, not mostly, not in name only.

That commitment is the reason we sometimes say no to products customers ask for, even when we understand the demand. Chicken feet are one of those products.

The challenge with certifying chicken feet as organic

Organic certification is about complete traceability and control - what the animal eats, how it lives, the environment it moves through, and what it comes into contact with.

While organic chickens are raised to high welfare standards, their feet are in constant contact with the ground. That ground may include:

• Natural soil

• Bedding material

• Outdoor areas

• Areas shared by multiple birds

Even on well-managed organic farms, it is not possible to guarantee with 100% certainty what a chicken’s feet have come into contact with at all times.

Because of this, chicken feet cannot reliably meet the strict requirements needed for organic certification. In some cases, they may be sold as free-range or high-welfare — but not genuinely organic in the way we define and uphold it.

Why we choose not to compromise

We could sell chicken feet labelled as organic with caveats, explanations, or technicalities. Some businesses do.

But that isn’t how we operate.

For us, organic isn’t a marketing term — it’s a promise. And if we can’t stand behind a product with complete confidence, we won’t put it on your plate.

That means:

• No blurred lines

• No “organic-ish” labelling

• No products that rely on loopholes rather than standards

Our respect for the whole animal

We strongly believe in using as much of the animal as possible and respecting it fully — through skilled butchery, thoughtful cooking, and reducing waste. That belief is exactly why customers ask us about chicken feet, particularly for stocks and broths.

We understand that interest, and we respect it.

But honouring the animal also means being honest about what we can and cannot offer within organic certification.

What this means for you as a customer

When you shop with The Organic Butchery, you can trust that:

• If we say organic, it truly is organic

• Every product meets the same uncompromising standard

• We won’t sell something simply because it’s popular or profitable

That trust matters to us - and we know it matters to you too.

We’re always listening, always reviewing what’s possible, and always guided by integrity first. If a product can meet our standards properly in the future, we’ll explore it. Until then, we choose transparency over compromise.

Because food done properly means doing the right thing, even when it means saying no.