Its easy to do your grocery shopping all in one giant store, you get everything you need and you're done with that task quickly and easily. If you need eggs, you grab a carton of eggs. You may even have the option to buy "free range eggs" and it makes you feel just a little bit better about that purchase. After all the label is telling you "These chickens got to enjoy sunshine and grass."
We've all seen the grocery store packages of meat, eggs, and dairy products decorated with reassuring phrases such as "natural" and "free-range" and pictures of happy animals running around quaint country barns. But if you buy organic or free-range animal products because you think that the animals are treated well, respectfully processed and raised humanly you are sadly mistaken....and its not your fault.
Lets go over some of the true definitions of our meat packaging labels these days shall we?
All Natural Applies only to processing and indicates that no artificial or synthetic products have been added. The legal definition does not have anything to do with how the animal was raised. “Natural” feed may or may not have antibiotics or other additives.
Beyond Organic A fabricated term that is not substantiated by any certifying group. Farmers who use the term often state they meet the organic standards (as they perceive them) but are not currently certified organic. If used on meat labels may be subject to fine by the NOP (National Organic Program)
Cage Free Term not substantiated by any certifying agency. Implies animals (often poultry) are raised outside of cages. Animals may or may not still be raised in very crowded indoor conditions just without individual cages.
Cage Free only means chickens did not live like this
Free-Range Another term not substantiated by a certifying agency. Implies animal is outside but does not indicate in what conditions (pasture? Dirt lot?) or for what time frame each day.
This is considered "free range"
Grass Fed Currently a voluntary situation. Any farmer can call his meat” grass fed” Two agencies do certify grass fed farmers. USDA grass fed is least stringent, requires that beef animal is forage/grass/pasture raised its entire life, no grain but allows antibiotics, hormone and pesticide treatments. The American Grass Fed Association (AGA) is stricter. Same as USDA but in addition: PROHIBITS antibiotics, hormones and pesticides.
True Grass fed/pasture raised beef would live like this
Heritage Animal Considered being a rare and endangered livestock. A purebred animal. The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC) responsible for majority of Heritage Breed Registrations, Breed identifications and public education.
Humanely Raised Third parties such as the Animal Welfare Association and Humane Farmed exist to audit or certify farms. The label wars against overcrowding, early weaning, and denying access to pasture to name a few.
Most of the pigs raised for pork live like this...not very humanly
Local No legal definition. Implies the farm or producer lives within 50 miles of the consumer. Some Chicago area restaurants consider Livingston County products as “local”
Natural See All Natural definition above.
No Hormones Added Generally another marketing scheme as it is illegal to use hormones in the raising of poultry and hogs in the US anyway. Still allowed for beef production.
Non-Confined Implies animals are not in a feed lot situation however some farmers feel as long as their animal is not in an individual cage they are “non-confined”
Organic The most controversial and highly regulated agricultural term to date. Through the USDA, the National Organic Program (NOP) regulates, inspects and certifies farms, businesses and their products. The organic standards number over 200 and must be met during annual inspections in order for a farmer or his meat to be labeled “organic” or “certified organic” Most well-known standards prohibit the use of antibiotics, hormones, pesticides, herbicides or anthelmintics (worming agents). Instead, only approved organic treatments may be given to livestock. All meat products must also be processed in an approved Certified Organic Locker in order to use the organic label. Uncertified farmers who label their products as organic are subject to fines and penalties.
Pasture-Raised Again, can be a nebulous term. Not regulated by a certifying agency. Implies the animal is raised outside on grass a large majority of its life. The organic standard for time on pasture is 120 days per year minimum.
Sustainable Most widely used term in farming today. Not regulated by animal agency and therefore any farmer can use however the legal definition by the USDA for “Sustainable Agriculture” means
So not only is it hard to pick which of these labels are most important its impossible to find a true product in a store. The only way to know if you will get a true grass/pasture raised/organic product is to search out a farm and talk to your farmer. Get to know them...why not offer to help with his chores one day to really see how the animals are raised. Do they shy away from him or come when they are called. How clean are the barns (Within reason...I mean, its a farm people!) Someone who has nothing to hide and is proud of their craft are more than willing to let you check them out.
But
This isn't the easy way of doing things. It takes time and to most people, its not worth it. That's OK, but for me I want to eat the animal that lived the way it was intended. processed with respect and sold with pride
That's why I choose to do my shopping the hard way.
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