Grass Fed or Organic Beef...what do I need to know?

Hi there!  I’m Dr. Lisa Schwartz.  I often get asked about the wisdom of eating red meat.  So many people love it but have been told they should limit what they eat.  They also wonder about the difference between organic meat, grass fed beef, and grain fed beef.  So let me address those questions

First, is red meat healthy?

If you were to rate protein sources according to the value they add to the diet, red meat would not be at the top of the list.  That would be where vegetable proteins and wild caught, non-predatory, high content omega-3 fish come in.  Some examples would be soy, salmon, sardines, herring, and anchovies.

Next on the list would be white meats like chicken and turkey.  And yes, in last place, red meats like beef.  But that doesn’t mean you can’t have it.  You just need to limit how much of it you enjoy.  Red meats are considered less healthy than the other options because of their saturated fat content, but that line of reasoning may actually be changing.  It turns out that saturated fats may not be as bad for us as we once thought.

However, if you have health conditions or risk factors that put you at significant risk for heart disease then the American Heart Association still recommends that you watch your saturated fat consumption.  You will need to restrict your red meat consumption more than a healthy person might.

What about the various labels that are applied to beef such as organic or grass fed?

If beef is labeled USDA Organic then it must meet certain standards established by law.  The organic standards require that animals have year round access to the outdoors, be raised on certified organic land, be fed only organic feed, and not receive antibiotics or growth hormones.

What about seeing “grass fed” on the label?  Well, as of January, 2016, that no longer has much meaning.  The US Department of Agriculture dropped it’s “grass fed” standards meaning there are no longer official requirements for using the term “grass fed” other than the animal ate grass.

If you as a meat producer go to the USDA and ask for a “grass fed” designation they will only ask you if the animal was fed grass.  No requirements concerning confinement, use of hormones, or the use of antibiotics.  As far as the USDA is concerned, “grass fed” applies only to what the animal was fed and does not apply to how the animal was treated.

There is an industry group however called the American Grassfed Association who has its own certification program.  In their certification program animals must be fed  “100% forage diet, never confined to a feedlot, never fed antibiotics or hormones, and born and raised on American family farms.”  You can look for their logo on the packaging.  American Grassfed Association.

Another thing that you can do is look for the term “grass finished” along with grass fed.  Producers still have to meet the requirements for truth in advertising so you know this animal was not raised on grass then switched to grain for the finishing/fattening part of their lives.  Instead they were grass fed and finished.

So what can you do if you want to eat healthier, humanely treated beef?  If you are lucky enough to know a local farmer who can tell you exactly how his cattle were raised, then that is probably your best bet for finding truly “grass fed” beef. 

Second best would be to look for third party labeling like from the American Grassfed Association.  But be sure to check the third party’s website so that you know what their standards are. 

Thirdly look for the term “grass finished” along with grassfed.

What about the nutritional quality of grass fed beef versus grain fed beef?  Well, it appears that the grass fed is a little healthier. 

There are more omega-3 fatty acids in grass fed beef and fewer of the fatty acids that elevate cholesterol. 

There is also an overall lower fat content in grass fed beef, and it contains more anti-oxidants than grain fed beef.

So I hope that answers your questions about organic and grass fed beef.   If you are interested in more information about breast cancer, nutrition, and healthy lifestyle changes, be sure to visit my website and blog at LisaSchwartzMD.com or subscribe to my You Tube channel at Lisa Schwartz, MD.  Thanks for your time and attention.  Have a fantastic week and I’ll see you next time.