Organic beef
Encyclopedia
Organic beef is beef
grown according to organic food
principles.
label, many people wrongly assumed that the terms “organic” and “natural” were interchangeable, failing to understand the strict regulations required to raise certified organic beef. The USDA defines “natural” beef as all meats raised for human consumption without additives and minimally processed. Natural Beef producers may choose not to use antibiotics or growth-promoting hormones, but there is no third-party verification system required by the USDA. Beef from factory feed lots can be labeled natural, according to the USDA’s definition.
. The USDA is currently developing guidelines to define the term Grass-Fed, and it is expected to call for an all grass diet of at least 95%. Strictly grass-fed cattle tend to be leaner than grain-fed. Grain finishing is more common in the industry as it produces to many consumers a more flavorful cattle with a higher percentage of fat. All grains must be certified organic to ensure the integrity of the program.
. While this is in technical accordance with the rules of the National Organic Program, it does not follow the spiritual status quo of the American organic movement
. To make way for more pasture to raise cattle, great swaths of South American rainforest
have been clear-cut, which puts South American beef at a disadvantage because most consumers don't want to be indirectly responsible for deforestation. Additionally, the ecological advantage of raising cattle on clean land without added chemical inputs in their feed is greatly diminished when the beef is shipped within the range of approximately 5,000 to 10,000 miles (8,000 to 16,000 km) to reach American markets.
Beef
Beef is the culinary name for meat from bovines, especially domestic cattle. Beef can be harvested from cows, bulls, heifers or steers. It is one of the principal meats used in the cuisine of the Middle East , Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Europe and the United States, and is also important in...
grown according to organic food
Organic food
Organic foods are foods that are produced using methods that do not involve modern synthetic inputs such as synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers, do not contain genetically modified organisms, and are not processed using irradiation, industrial solvents, or chemical food additives.For the...
principles.
Organic Beef
According to the USDA rules passed on October 22, 2002, certified organic beef must come from a fully verifiable production system that collects information on the history of every animal in the program, including its breed history, veterinary care, and feed. Further, to be certified as organic, all cattle should meet the following criteria:- Born and raised on certified organic pasture
- Never receive antibiotics
- Never receive growth-promoting hormones
- Are fed only certified organic grains and grasses
- Must have unrestricted outdoor access
Organic vs. Natural
With the arrival of the OrganicOrganic food
Organic foods are foods that are produced using methods that do not involve modern synthetic inputs such as synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers, do not contain genetically modified organisms, and are not processed using irradiation, industrial solvents, or chemical food additives.For the...
label, many people wrongly assumed that the terms “organic” and “natural” were interchangeable, failing to understand the strict regulations required to raise certified organic beef. The USDA defines “natural” beef as all meats raised for human consumption without additives and minimally processed. Natural Beef producers may choose not to use antibiotics or growth-promoting hormones, but there is no third-party verification system required by the USDA. Beef from factory feed lots can be labeled natural, according to the USDA’s definition.
USDA Certification
The U.S. Department of Agriculture allows any fresh meat to be described as "natural" if it includes no artificial flavoring, coloring, preservative or any other artificial ingredients. Minimally processed products, such as ground meat, also count as "natural."Labeling Requirements
To be marketed as "natural," the product can not contain any additives, such as monosodium glutamate or salt, if so, it cannot be labeled as "natural."Grass-fed or Grain finished?
As organic cattle approach market weight, there are two feeding methods that producers most commonly use to deliver beef products to their customers: Grass-Fed and Grain-Fed. In the grass-fed program, the cattle continue to eat certified organic grass right up to the time of slaughteringAnimal slaughter
Slaughter is the term used to describe the killing and butchering of animals, usually for food. Commonly it refers to killing and butchering of domestic livestock ....
. The USDA is currently developing guidelines to define the term Grass-Fed, and it is expected to call for an all grass diet of at least 95%. Strictly grass-fed cattle tend to be leaner than grain-fed. Grain finishing is more common in the industry as it produces to many consumers a more flavorful cattle with a higher percentage of fat. All grains must be certified organic to ensure the integrity of the program.
North America vs. Global Supply
Some American beef producers are expanding into the organic beef niche by exporting boxed beef from South AmericaSouth America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. While this is in technical accordance with the rules of the National Organic Program, it does not follow the spiritual status quo of the American organic movement
Organic movement
The organic movement broadly refers to the organizations and individuals involved worldwide in the promotion of organic farming, which is a more sustainable mode of agriculture...
. To make way for more pasture to raise cattle, great swaths of South American rainforest
Rainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
have been clear-cut, which puts South American beef at a disadvantage because most consumers don't want to be indirectly responsible for deforestation. Additionally, the ecological advantage of raising cattle on clean land without added chemical inputs in their feed is greatly diminished when the beef is shipped within the range of approximately 5,000 to 10,000 miles (8,000 to 16,000 km) to reach American markets.