Grass-Fed Beef Health Benefits: A Meat-Buyer’s Guide

Reader Contribution by Kathleen Jade and Nd
1 / 2
2 / 2

Beef that is truly 100 percent grass-fed comes from cows that have grazed in pasture year-round rather than being fed a processed diet for much of their life. Standards and labeling laws for grass-fed beef are controversial and confusing. The terms “grass-fed” or “pasture-raised” are allowed even if your beef really came from cows that spent little or no time outdoors in a pasture setting. U.S. beef labeled as “grass-fed” but not bearing USDA certification may be the result of various combinations of grass and grain feeding including grass finishing. If the label doesn’t specifically say “100 percent grass-fed,” or carry the USDA or similar certification, there’s no guarantee.

Even under USDA certification standards, however, cows labeled “grass-fed”can be confined much of the year and fed antibiotics or hormones. The USDA’s standards are lower than those of the American Grassfed Association (AGA), an alternative organization that, like the USDA, offers certification for grass-fed beef. The AGA certification standards focus not only on what the cows eat, but also include assurance that they have never been treated with growth hormones or antibiotics, that they have been treated humanely, and that the environment has been protected. If you’re going to make the effort to buy and eat grass-fed, you might as well make sure the label includes the AGA certification stamp or get verification that the cows were 100% grass fed.

Does “Organic” Mean Grass-Fed?

Organic beef by itself doesn’t guarantee the cows were pasture raised or grass fed. The USDA’s organic regulations do little to assure cows’ pasture access or intake of grasses. However, certified organic beef is much less likely than conventional beef to expose you to unwanted pesticide, antibiotic, or hormone residues. Plus, certified organic beef cannot have been genetically modified or irradiated.

Online Store Logo
Need Help? Call 1-800-234-3368