You want the health benefits so be sure you know what you're buying
Every day new studies and information demonstrate the health benefits of eating grass fed beef. That's great news, because almost everyone loves beef, and now we know that eating the right kind of beef can create tremendous improvements in your health and the health of the environment.
But the term is confusing; just what does grass fed mean? In this lens I will explain the 2 main things you want to look for when you are purchasing grass fed beef so that you can reap all of the heralded health benefits, and not be scammed by unscrupulous companies who take advantage of the fact that the USDA has not created a standardized definition of grass fed.
Please email me with questions or comments.
Important update to this lens!
The USDA has now established standards for the definition of grass fed
Since I first published this lens the USDA created definitive standards for the use of the claim grass fed, in October of 2007. While the standards are not great, they at least prevent some of the unscrupulous operators that I had mentioned in this lens from advertising as grass fed when they actually finished their cattle on grain.I have left this lens in its original form, even though the basic premise of the article no longer holds true, since the USDA adopted their standards.
It is important to know what you are looking for when you want to buy grass fed beef for the heralded health benefits. This lens provides information you need to make informed choices when you purchase grass fed beef.
While the new standards don't allow grain feeding, they do still allow feeding of dry forage product (usually alfalfa hay) in confinement, which allows producers to use the same old industrial confinement model, simply with different inputs (organic alfalfa, corn stalks, or other forage).
Most of the grass fed, organic beef sold in health food stores was finished in confinement and fed hay for months on end, but their advertising still conjurs up images of green grass and open range, so don't be fooled. Check out the producers so you know what you are getting when you buy grass fed!
All of the health benefits come from the finishing!
Almost all beef is grass fed at some point in its life, what matters is the last few months before processing
Bovine animals did not evolve to eat large quantities of grain as their primary diet. When they are fed only grain, it changes the acidity in their digestive tract, which then changes the make up of the microbes that break down the contents of the stomachs and intestines. This in turn causes a change in the tissues (meat) of the animal, making the fat much more watery, and decreasing levels of Omega 3, CLA, and the other important fatty acids that are so critical to good health.
Be sure you buy beef that has been finished on grass only and no grain
Some of the top sponsored links on Google advertise as grass fed but read the fine print on their web site
Once again, don't be scammed by these companies, who show up as some of the top sponsored links when you do a Google search for grass fed beef.If a purveyor of grass fed beef doesn't prominently display the words grass finished beef on their web site, be sure you look at the fine print, or call and ask them before you buy.
As you read from here be sure to keep the update at the top of this lens in mind
What follows no longer holds true
The USDA has not established the legal definition of grass fed or grass finished
That is why these companies are able to get away with this scam
A number of beef producers and distributors are using the ambiguity created by the lack of standardized definitions to call their product grass fed when it is actually grain finished. For now that is a perfectly legal practice, so your only assurance is to verify that the producer does indeed grass finish their beef.
Links to learn more about grass fed beef claims
These websites describe and link to the USDA's website where they explain what is happening with the rule-making process for the definition of grass fed.
http://www.csuchico.edu/agr/grassfedbeef/pdf/Product Claims.pdf
Cal State University at Chico has done extensive r more...1 point
USATODAY.com - Ranchers decry grass-fed beef rule plan
Meat-eaters usually assume a grass-fed steak came more...0 points
The other critical issue is confinement
Organic alfalfa feed lots use the same old confinement model, but simply replace grain with alfalfa
A lot of the beef that is sold in health food stores as organic grass fed comes from animals fed alfalfa, corn stalks, and other agricultural byproducts, in confinement, just like in the feed lot. While these animals are not fed grain, I can't say for sure that they're fed grass either. Look for pasture-raised
Do you want to eat beef that has lived its entire life on open pastures and meadows or from animals fed in crowded, dirty pens?
When purchasing grass fed beef, be sure that the producer you buy from manages their cattle herds on open pastures and meadows and do not feed them in confinement.Let me be clear though. From time to time it is inevitable that ranchers will pen up cattle for a short time to move them, protect them from weather, or work them. This happens on every ranch, but that kind of confinement is fleeting, momentary, and nothing to worry about.
What you want to make sure of is that the cattle aren't kept and fed in confinement day in and day out for months on end
Buy beef that is 100% grass finished and pasture raised
- Diamond F Brand Beef at Grass Fed and Healthy
- This is a link to our web site where you can purchase 100% grass finished beef, pastured at very high altitude. Not to brag, but we think our beef is as good as it gets!
Great reading material about grass fed beef
Michael Pollan's books might just make the grass fed movement take off even more explosively than the Atkins Diet did! For the health of our society I can only hope so!
The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan
Michael Pollan's recent best-seller, THE OMNIVORE' more...0 points
Pasture Perfect: The Far-Reaching Benefits of Choosing Meat, Eggs, and Dairy Products from Grass-Fed Animals by Jo Robinson
Learn about all of the health benefits of eating g more...0 points
In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto by Michael Pollan
What to eat, what not to eat, and how to think abo more...0 points
Grass fed beef: Healthy for you - Healthy for the planet!
When you eat grass fed beef your are not only helping to improve your own health - you are helping to improve the health of the environment!
Do you have any grass fed beef stories you would like to share?
I would love to hear from you
Eating grass fed beef helped me lose 40 pounds and reduced our HMO premium by 11%. Do you have any stories about how eating grass fed has helped you?
AMK wrote...
My first visit to Ontario,Calafornia introduced me to the biggest concentration of dairy cattle I had ever seen and to Alfalfa. After drinking the milk. I have never been able to keep milk down ever since. Gosh I miss the farm :(
Posted March 01, 2008
Evelyn_Saenz wrote...
I grew up on grass finished beef and didn't realize what I was missing until I tried some Vt. Grass Finished Beef last summer. It is delicious.
Posted November 28, 2007
SpicySun wrote...
Great lens! Nice job! Spicy says: "Come on by and visit Spicy Sun Dips." You'll love it!
Posted October 16, 2007
kerryg wrote...
Thanks for this important lens! Not only is grass-fed beef (or bison!) healthier for people and the environment, it also tastes better. :)
Posted August 06, 2007
watkins-lady wrote...
I grew up on a ranch and agree grass fed beef is the best. Welcome to Home Cooking And Baking group. You've got a wonderful lens, 5 stars! Stop by Watkins Gourmet Foods
Posted July 17, 2007
Wow! An ironic update
I was amazed to see one of the sponsored ads on this lens is from one of the companies who play the word game
Of course the primary tag for this lens is "grass fed beef", and since those companies pay a high PPC rate for Google ads, I guess it's only natural that one of their ads would show up on this lens, but I still find it incredibly ironic!
