Is "grass-fed" beef a healthier choice?

Ever wondered what the "grass-fed" label on meats in your supermarket really means? Well, thanks to a new rule, the grass-fed claim on beef and lamb now means that the meat came from animals that actually, well, ate grass. The animals also have to have access to pasture during the growing season. Be sure to look for the accompanying "USDA Process Verified" shield, since a loophole allows producers who previously used the grass-fed claim to continue to do so without having to meet the new requirements. The shield also guarantees the farms were inspected by the USDA to meet the new standard.

Why it's good

Grass-fed meats are lower in total fats than conventional meats and have higher levels of good fats like omega-3s. But they may not be as tender. Grass-fed ground beef usually has more conjugated linoleic acid, which might improve the immune system and help fight cancer, atherosclerosis, and type 2 diabetes, lab and animal studies show.

To learn more about labels on the foods you eat, visit the Eco-labels center at www.GreenerChoices.org.

Comments

[Juanita]

Acid rain!? Huh? Sounds like Patricia's brain could benefit from some of those omega-3s in grass-finished beef!

What do you think falls on the corn that corn-fed cows eat? And on the crops that we eat?

Much of the corn feed given to livestock is genetically modified and unfit for human consumption. A grain diet makes the cows very sick from the acid imbalance in their stomachs. That acid indigestion breeds dangerous strains of E Coli.

I've had pasture-raised angus from a local (Virginia) farmer and it melts in your mouth, even without aging.

[Rita]

Grass fed beef, more properly termed "grass-finished" because all beef eat hay or grass during their lifetime, and not all eat ONLY grass or hay, is dependant upon genetics, age, and quality of grasses for tenderness. Unfortunately, there are grass-fed producers who sell old cows, bulls and younger beeves that do not meet quality standards and who ultimately give grass-fed meat a bad name. With proper nutrition and breeding, the tenderness and flavor of a grass-fed beef is unsurpassed, and above all, the meat is good for you with higher levels of omega 3, vitamins A and E and less fat and cholesterol.

[David G.]

The tenderness issue with grass fed beef goes to the breed of animal that is being sold. When you start with a "heritage breed" that is known for tough meat, you will get a tough product.

When you start with a breed known for its quality meat, like Angus, you get a meat with the health benefits of grass fed with the quality you have come to expect from commercially produced beef.

As for acid rain, if it kills the pasture, then the animals will suffer. We go to great lengths to ensure that the pastures are maintained so as not to endanger the cattle. Most areas where grass fed cattle are raised do not have the problem of acid rain.

[Patricia]

Grass-fed beef may not be as tender. But I also wonder about the safety of eating it, considering the amount of acid rain that falls and various air pollutants. I wonder if any studies have been done about that aspect of eating grass-fed beef?