Buying meat these days is like studying for a grade school adjective test.

Labels abound with a plethora of ways to describe how the meat was processed, how the animal was raised, how it was slaughtered, how it was shipped, what it was fed, and what it was (or wasn’t) injected with. Sorting through the list of adjectives requires both patience and often times an ability to read fine print, as well as the motivation to care enough to do so.

I’m hoping this series of posts will show you that the simple choices you make when buying meat have cascading effects for our environment, our society, your health and the health of those you love and care about.

So, let’s start with the most familiar vocabulary…

All Natural: This claim has no teeth. “All Natural” means the meat has been only minimally processed and contains no artificial ingredients. This claim is not yet USDA regulated however, so any company can put it on their product.

Minimally Processed: USDA regulated, this term means that the meat has been separated into component parts and no artificial ingredients or synthetics have been added.

Naturally Raised or Produced: Has only preliminary USDA regulation. At this point in time it means that the animals are never administered growth promotants (hormones), antibiotics, or mammalian or avian by-products (they are not fed the remains of other dead animals). However, these animals can be administered paracitides (de-wormers), vaccinations, and bloat prevention agents (feed grade probiotics).

NOTE: Many small meat producers in the U.S. were pushing for “Naturally Raised” to exclude animals raised in CAFOs (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations) and those denied access to pasture. However, at this time “Naturally Raised” animals can be raised indoors and never see the light of day or a blade of grass. Again, don’t let the pretty picture on the label fool you.

Conventionally Raised: While you won’t see the “Conventionally Raised” label very often, it is good to know what “Conventional” means as a baseline to compare to other labels. Conventionally raised animals can be administered antibiotics and hormones, both of which will remain in the tissues of the animal after slaughter. The USDA says that the residual amounts are so small that they won’t lead to human resistance (in the case of antibiotics) or health problems (in the case of hormones).

NOTE: The USDA is not a strictly regulatory agency and it’s policies are subject to heavy influence from industry. Part of it’s mission statement is to “expand markets for agricultural products”, or in other words, help the agricultural companies sell more product. USDA Policy is often based upon studies funded by industry, which often lend themselves to questionable methods, techniques, and interpretations of results. USDA regulation, while better than nothing, does not necessarily hold the best interests of the consumers or the animals at heart.

No Chemicals Added: This label is not allowed on products. If you see it, don’t buy it.

No Hormones (beef): Hormones are allowed in beef, but if this label is present they weren’t used. USDA regulated.

No Hormone (pork or poultry): Hormones are not allowed to be used in pork or poultry. If the label says “No Hormones” then it must be accompanied by “Federal regulation prohibits the use of hormones.”

Nitrate Free/Nitrite Free: Look to avoid nitrates and nitrites. If you don’t see this on a label, read the ingredients list. Usually found in processed meat products to inhibit the growth of Clostridium botulinum.

Grass Fed: USDA regulated, states that animals must be fed grass, but does not prohibit the animals from being fed grains. If grains are fed to the animals it must be explicitly stated on the packaging. The new language also mandates that the animals have access to pasture during the growing season. Animals can still be administered antibiotics or hormones. New standards are being proposed that would require grass fed to mean “100% Grass Fed”.

Grass Finished: Animal has been fed grass for it’s entire life, or is 100% Grass Fed. Can still be given antibiotics and hormones, and doesn’t necessarily mean it was organically raised, though often times the two go together.

Vegetarian Fed: Animal’s diet was free from by-products of other dead animals. This label does not mean the animal was pastured or raised humanely. Vegetarian feed also typically means corn, wheat, and soy, which often leads to sick cattle and chickens with poor fatty acid profiles in the meat.

COOL: Country Of Origin Labeling mandates that meat products that contain the flesh of animals from different countries must list those countries on the label. For example, ground beef packages can contain meat from several different countries, and must be labeled as such.

USDA Organic: USDA regulated and 3rd Party Certified, this label mandates that the animals were fed only organic feed (produced without the use of (most) fertilizers, antibiotics, genetic engineering, irradiation, sewage sludge, or artificial ingredients), and were not fed or injected antibiotics or hormones. Animals are also supposed to have “continuous” access to the outdoors, but enforcement is known to be lax on this.

Free Range/Cage Free: Means that animals must have the option to go outside (this could be and likely is just a small fenced in yard attached to the feed house) for some amount of time (could only be a few minutes per day). This label lacks any 3rd Party Certification, and does not mean the animals are organically or humanely raised, or that they are free of antibiotics or hormones (pork and poultry will be). The chickens in the above picture could very well be labeled “Free Range” or “Cage Free”.

Air Chilled: Typically used with poultry, indicates animal was blasted with cold air following slaughter instead of being immersed in cold water. This can be good simply because it means the operation is more water conscious.

Certified Humane/Humanely Raised/Free Farmed: 3rd Party Certified (either Humane Farm Animal Care or American Humane Association), this label means that the animals are provided with clean water to drink, have adequate space to move around, must be provided shelter from the weather, and must be handled by certified humane handlers. This label does not mean the animals aren’t vaccinated or given antibiotics, but they are typically required in much smaller amounts when animals are raised according to these criteria.

In addition to the presence of any one of these labels you can tell a lot about your meat by what the package does NOT say. If the T-Bone you are looking at through the glass doesn’t say “Grass Fed” you know it was fed either corn, wheat, soy, or a mixture of any and all of them. You also know that the meat will have a higher fat content and have a skewed fatty acid profile favoring the pro-inflammatory Omega 6′s while being nearly devoid of Omega 3′s.

Remember that labels are designed to sell a product, not necessarily to make buying healthy, ethical meat easy. Take the time to educate yourself on what the labels really mean and get in the practice of reading them. Every dollar you spend is a vote, so vote wisely for your health, your community, the environment, and the welfare of the animals.

Yours in health and happiness,

- Casey

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