[the_gastropod]

> If the end result is unequivocally good...

I think they'd argue "cleanliness" is not the only aspect of what "good" is. The chickens' diets and living conditions affect the quality of the chicken. To say nothing of the animal cruelty angle...

[noelsusman]

Then why focus on the chemical wash and not the actual problem people care about?

[ivalm]

Because the wash hides the actual problems making it harder to detect.

[jshevek]

If they are allowed to use the wash, then they lose an incentive to improve their upstream practices.