How Much Better for You Is Grass Fed Beef Vs Pasture Raised Beef
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The Difference Between Pasture-Raised vs Grass-Fed vs Organic
The Everything Food Team
Since the early 1970s, the management of livestock—from birth to harvest—has been an intensely debated issue. Knowing the difference between the many available options is essential to figuring out which option is best for you and your family's well-being.
Do You Understand the Claim on Your Food Label?
When you think of meat, what comes to mind? Probably not a vivid image of strapping on your hunting boots with Ol' Marmaduke in tow on your way to hunt rogue livestock out yonder. Rather, you probably picture a scene of packages containing crimson-colored meat, neatly wrapped in your local grocery store; or perhaps various cuts of fresh meat at your local farmers market. Therein lies the confusion—or at least part of it.
Most people lack a clear understanding of what the terms "grass-fed," "pasture-raised" and "organic" mean for livestock when used on a retail food label. Exactly how each of these livestock practices differ also seems to be a mystery. Read on as we demystify these terms and help you make the healthiest choice.
What Has Your Food Been Eating?
Kettle and Fire conducted a survey to determine how much consumers know about the way livestock are raised. The good news: Many of those surveyed understood the term "organic" (a standard upheld by the government and generally understood to mean foods grown without pesticides or antibiotics and with practices that are better for the planet.) A whopping 69 percent of people got that right!
The bad news is that the same could not be said for other portions of the survey. Fewer than 30 percent of participants clearly understood what "grass-fed" really meant. The term indicates that 100 percent of the animal's diet after weaning was either grass or forage.
When it came to "pasture-raised" (meaning that animals graze in a pasture for at least part of the day but their daily diet may still contain grain at one point), only 31 percent of survey participants answered correctly.
It's obvious there is a disconnect between consumer demand for livestock products and consumer knowledge of the practices behind the claims on retail food labels. What are the more important factors behind each claim? What's the best choice? Is there a best choice?
How to Know Which Choice Is Right for Your Needs?
If you're on a "grain-free" diet (such as paleo or keto), then grass-fed beef might be a better choice for you. A quick way to tell how much of the animal's diet consisted of grass without even looking at the label is to look at the fat. No, really. Fat color is a direct result of the vitamins that are present in a cow's diet. Grass contains significant amounts of beta-carotene, which converts to Vitamin A and gives the fat that yellowish hue. The more yellow the fat is, the higher the amount of beta-carotene in the cow's diet.
Now, simply because the animal is "grass-fed" does not guarantee that it roamed in a pasture. If you're more concerned with where the animal ate its meals but not bothered by the fact that it may have been fed grain as part of its diet at some point, then you might consider taking a second look at "pasture-raised" options.
"Organic" beef is not the same as "grass-fed" beef. Producers of organic meat are allowed to feed livestock on a grain-fed system or a grass-fed system. What sets organic livestock practices apart in a good way is that a certified organic meat producer must have and provide a written Organic Farm Plan to the public when requested. Also known as an organic system plan, it provides details on management improvement and how the producer plans to conserve and optimize natural resources more effectively. It also serves as a legal contract between the organic producer and the certifying agency.
Final Thoughts and Takeaways
Even though certain animals may have eaten grains of various types during their lifetime, all meat is "gluten-free" on its own. According to Dr. Ruth McDonald, Chair and Professor of the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at Iowa State University, this is because of how "the animal converts food proteins … by breaking down their structure during digestion."
As mentioned at the onset, part of the reason for confusion when it comes to food label claims is simply a lack of food education on the consumer's side. The other part is a lack of clarity within the laws that govern livestock practices and the transparency of retail food labels over the years.
If you have to make the choice between"pasture-raised" vs "grass-fed" (or "grass-fed" vs "organic"), we recommend going with the option that's closest to "natural". For more information on over 800,000 food products, sign up to become one of the first users on our program and we'll provide you with an encyclopedia of food brands to compare.
The Everything Food Team
About
Everything Food is an online platform empowering people to make informed food choices. We enable you to search & compare food products using our Everything Food Quality Score (EFQS), an intuitive food quality scoring system.
Through standardization we are applying uniform quality standards across all products and categories to create an easily understood food quality score. The EFQS rates products from 100 to 1 based on the most natural to least natural. Higher scores are awarded to products that are fresh or raw with solid pedigrees and minimal processing that maintains their nutrition levels. Another dimension rates products higher on the depth of information provided by the food producer. All items on the platform display the score and detailed information including ingredients, nutrition, husbandry, origins, breeds, additives, organic and more.
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Nutrition Provided by Nutritionix
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