Is this something you look at when buying meat, etc?

Devol82

http://blog.tynerpondfarm.com/blog/elizabeth-edwards/grass-fed-organic,-or-all-natural-popular-food-buzz-words-you-need-to-know

dubird

Not really, no. Nothing wrong if you do that, but I've never been concerned about it and I'm fine. Organic and grass fed and other buzz words like that mean you'll pay a lot more for them. Some people swear they taste different, I've never noticed it.

kshama2001

The thought of animals spending most of their lives on factory farms makes me sad, so I look for indicators that they were not, which includes grass-fed. However, "grass-fed" can be synonymous with "really expensive" so I look more for things like Certified Humane. All the supermarkets near me carry meat with this label. Also, I belong to a food coop and we periodically go in on a cow that was grass fed by a local farmer.

From your link:

...Grass-Fed:

...The American Grassfed Association (AGA) and the USDA have different standards for their beef. In short, the USDA defines grass fed as ruminant animals (grazing animals with 4 stomachs) fed only their mother's milk followed by grass and forage (grass, vegetation, hay, grains in unprocessed form, etc) from weaning to harvest with no confinement during the growing season. The AGA decided this was too narrow of a definition, as it still allows the animals to be pumped full of hormones and antibiotics, and fed GMO forage. The AGA feels many consumers who care about grass fed beef would also care about other junk being given to the animal, and I quite agree. So, the AGA takes that definition and expands it to include no confinement ever, no hormones or antibiotics, and animals who were born and raised in the USA. (Source.) Food Alliance also has a similar grass-fed definition to the AGA. - See more at: http://blog.tynerpondfarm.com/blog/elizabeth-edwards/grass-fed-organic,-or-all-natural-popular-food-buzz-words-you-need-to-know#sthash.41wRLE9t.dpuf

lemurcat12

Generally not, because as the piece points out a lot of those terms are misleading (like free range) or mean basically nothing (like natural). I also tend to buy conventional (non organic) produce when buying in the grocery store and don't care about GMO (although people think a bunch more stuff is GMO than the reality).

However, I do like to support local farms, eat seasonally (when possible), and know where my meat comes from, and I have a slight bias toward grass-fed beef, as I think that model is more environmentally sustainable, better for the cattle, and has a slight advantage (but not a big one) in terms of the fat profile of the resulting meat. This is an easy bias for me to have, since I get most of my meat (other than fish) from a small local farm, as well as my eggs, that does pasture the animals. I'm not 100% consistent, in that I buy cottage cheese from the supermarket.

juggernaut1974

Nope

strong_curves

Not at all.

Devol82

I thought it was an interesting read. Sometimes people can get overwhelmed with all the "buzz words" and trying to figure out what is what

MommyMeggo

"Lean" is pretty much the only word I *require.

LHWhite903

Too expensive for me to be that picky. Wish I could be, however, sometimes.

WickedPineapple

I don't really care about GMO, but I try to get beef with no hormones or antibiotics and pasture raised when I can find it.

niamibunni

Factory farmed animals have a lot of toxins and junk in their fat. Grass fed animals are generally happier (YAY BETTER TASTING MEAT) and don't have all that gunk added to their feed, which ends up in you.

It is more expensive and if it's not an option for you, get the lean cuts and trim any fat (fat is good, but not from factory farmed animals). If you have access to the organic grass fed frolicking in meadows sort of meat, nom it happily and with little worry.

kami3006

Calories, price, date are my priorities.

FunkyTobias

niamibunni wrote: »

Factory farmed animals have a lot of toxins and junk in their fat. Grass fed animals are generally happier (YAY BETTER TASTING MEAT) and don't have all that gunk added to their feed, which ends up in you.

It is more expensive and if it's not an option for you, get the lean cuts and trim any fat (fat is good, but not from factory farmed animals). If you have access to the organic grass fed frolicking in meadows sort of meat, nom it happily and with little worry.

LOL. Please to name these "toxins"

Francl27

I'm not paying crazy prices for meat, so nope.

callsitlikeiseeit

kami3006 wrote: »

Calories, price, date are my priorities.

ditto that

truelight_photo_craig

FunkyTobias wrote: »

niamibunni wrote: »

Factory farmed animals have a lot of toxins and junk in their fat. Grass fed animals are generally happier (YAY BETTER TASTING MEAT) and don't have all that gunk added to their feed, which ends up in you.

It is more expensive and if it's not an option for you, get the lean cuts and trim any fat (fat is good, but not from factory farmed animals). If you have access to the organic grass fed frolicking in meadows sort of meat, nom it happily and with little worry.

LOL. Please to name these "toxins"

And explain "Happier"...

JimKeegan555

MommyMeggo wrote: »

"Lean" is pretty much the only word I *require.

I've read that after cooking and draining meat is basically "lean"... I may have been reading pseudoscience but it makes sense to me.

kimny72

I would love to buy grass fed as I believe those animals are treated more humanely, but due to the expense I very rarely do. Otherwise, most of the other terms are pretty meaningless in my opinion. So basically I'm saying my ethics are easily over-ridden by financial concerns

amyk0202

I don't pay attention to any of it. I would love to buy meat from animals that lived a happy life before I eat them, but even the hint of that on a package makes it way more expensive. I can barely afford regular hamburger anymore. I remember when it was the cheap meat at $0.99/lb. I'm feeding 7 people & price is the most important factor in my grocery shopping decisions.

JoRocka

niamibunni wrote: »

Factory farmed animals have a lot of toxins and junk in their fat. Grass fed animals are generally happier (YAY BETTER TASTING MEAT) and don't have all that gunk added to their feed, which ends up in you.

It is more expensive and if it's not an option for you, get the lean cuts and trim any fat (fat is good, but not from factory farmed animals). If you have access to the organic grass fed frolicking in meadows sort of meat, nom it happily and with little worry.

how does a happier animal taste better other than giving you a good conscious about it?

Wetcoaster

I just like to make sure its not moving.

FunkyTobias

lemurcat12 wrote: »

Generally not, because as the piece points out a lot of those terms are misleading (like free range) or mean basically nothing (like natural). I also tend to buy conventional (non organic) produce when buying in the grocery store and don't care about GMO (although people think a bunch more stuff is GMO than the reality).

However, I do like to support local farms, eat seasonally (when possible), and know where my meat comes from, and I have a slight bias toward grass-fed beef, as I think that model is more environmentally sustainable, better for the cattle, and has a slight advantage (but not a big one) in terms of the fat profile of the resulting meat. This is an easy bias for me to have, since I get most of my meat (other than fish) from a small local farm, as well as my eggs, that does pasture the animals. I'm not 100% consistent, in that I buy cottage cheese from the supermarket.

Pretty much this. I avoid factory farmed meat as much as possible, but I'm not militant about it. I get eggs from my ducks, and most of the red meat I eat is from venison. I'll be raising some meat birds for myself this summer as well (broilers, ducks, and a few turkeys). I also belong to a local CSA, so I get a lot of fresh seasonal vegetables.

I don't worry about GMO or organic, in fact I believe the former is more sustainable than the latter (ie better crop yeilds). I believe that pastured meat is slightly better nutritionally (better diet probably leads to a better nutritional profile), but not drastically so, thus my choices are based on primarily on ethical considerations (and flavor).

williams969

I have 6 mouths to feed, and only one modest income with which to do it. I look for the leanest cuts (less shrinkage when cooked) at the best price. I camp at the markdown section of my corner grocery store every morning for half off deals. Humane, organic, grass fed is of no concern for me. Although, I have scored a piece of some organic blah blah whatever free range for $2/lb once or twice. Didn't taste any different to me, and the nutrition label was identical to the conventional version.

williams969

Wetcoaster wrote: »

I just like to make sure its not moving.

True story. My best meat purchase (value and quality wise) was the purchase of a live steer from my friend's ranch neighbor (to share with 2 other families). Got to look that steer in the eye and tell him, "I'm so going to eat you in a few months. Nom nom!" He was delicious, and cheap.

3AAnn3

Matters to me. To each his own.

Lounmoun

No. I have a tight budget so I'm mainly looking at price.

Kitnthecat

Yes absolutely. I'll never buy conventionally raised meat again. I buy directly from organic farmers, grass fed and pastured beef, pork, chicken eggs and turkey. There are no chemicals on the land or in the animals' food and no barns at all. I believe my meat is better quality, taste and value for my money. Plus I get bones, fat, and animal parts like feet, organs, heads etc for free. You can't beat it. I'd recommend this type of food experience to anyone. It has changed the way I shop, cook, and enjoy food.

finneyjason218

I always look to see if there are carbs. some processed meats now have added sugars, or other junk that isn't meat. I just want my meat to be meat. Preservatives are fine, I want my meat to stay fresh longer.

"Grass fed" and "organic" labels only matter if you enjoy paying more for something when you don't have to.

finneyjason218

Also if you ever read the words "toxins" or "chemicals", 9/10 everything else in the article is garbage. Real scientists don't use those words as if to convey negativity. If there is something which is toxic, they will tell you what it is and at which levels it is toxic. Chemicals are literally everything, anyone using that word as if it means "bad stuff" is scientifically illiterate.

lulalacroix

Lean meat at good prices. That's it.

muscleandbeard

Grass fed and lean. Grass fed is better tasting and better for you, but also pricier. I always use this analogy: if you were a cannibal, would you rather eat a drug addicted homeless guy or a healthy young athlete? That's my personal take on it.