In order to be a conscious shopper and buy high quality food, we have to be up on the latest lingo and understand the unfortunate truth about food labeling.
Food labels and certifications abound, and they can add a sense of safety to a purchase. For example, when I buy organic, I know what I’m buying is glyphosate-free.
However, there are many marketing terms and labels that aren’t what they appear to be at first glance.
A few of the many deceptive food labels include:
“Fresh”
“Pasture raised”
“Grass fed”
“Product of USA”
“Natural”
We rely on these labels to make important decisions about nourishing our bodies and our families, and many of these labels don’t mean what they imply or are unregulated terms that anyone can use.
What does grass fed really mean?
In the U.S. “grass fed” can mean the cow had a few bites of grass or it can mean the cow ate exclusively grass.
The USDA no longer regulates the term “grass fed”. If the cow ate some grass at some point in its life, the beef from that cow can have “grass fed” on the label, as “grass fed” is mostly an unregulated term. There are some independent, third-party grass fed certifications popping up, and they all have different requirements and standards.
In the U.S., 99% of beef is grain-finished or supplemented with grain throughout its life. However, that beef can usually be labeled as “grass fed” because the majority of calves graze some grass when nursing with their mothers in the early weeks and months of their lives.
Why should I care about grass fed and grass finished beef?
Compared to conventional beef, organic, grass-fed and grass-finished beef is:
10X higher in vitamin A
3X higher in vitamin E
Substantially higher in calcium, magnesium, potassium, & B vitamins
Lower in cholesterol
An abundant source of anti-cancer conjugated linoleic acid
Free of GMOs
Free of synthetic fertilizers
Free of hormones and antibiotics
Free of glyphosate and other pesticides and herbicides
We provide organic, grass-fed, and grass-finished beef because it’s best for the animal’s health, quality of life, and for our own health. We believe this is a sustainable way to feed our community, and we use regenerative farming practices.