Why Choosing Organic Meat Matters for More Eco Conscious Cooking
As we become increasingly concerned about the impact meat has on our health, the planet, and the animal it came from, we’re becoming willing to fork out more for organic, responsible cuts.
In this guide we’ll explore the impacts of organic meat in health and environmental aspects. Let’s dive in!
With the expansion of the population and the rise of the middle class, the demand for meat increased and continues to rise despite the popularity of plant-based diets.
The result has been concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) and supplementing animals’ diets with growth hormones, to increase yield.
However, the cramped conditions in feedlots lead to poor living conditions for the animals, causing stress and the outbreak of disease, with the latter prompting the use of antibiotics.
Organic meat production seeks to eliminate or reduce the presence of toxic chemicals like pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, as well as antibiotics, hormones, and other additives.
Allowing animals to graze in pastures keeps animals healthier, eliminating the need for antibiotics.
Implementing measures such as rotational grazing – rotating herds between different pastures – gives plants a chance to grow and reduces the need for feed and grain.
However, organic meat is not the only term you will come across when shopping.
Sustainable Meat Labels to Know
There is a plethora of associated terms and it helps to become familiar with these, and know the differences, so you can make the decisions you need to about your health, the planet, and the animal.
Grass-finished: Animals spend their whole lives grazing in pastures. They may also eat forage, hay, or silage.
Grain-finished: Animals spend most of their lives grazing in pastures but are eventually removed to feedlots, where they are fattened up on grains.
Grass-fed: This term can be misleading, as it may mean the animal has been grain-finished. Rather look for a label that says 100% grass-fed.
Free-range: Literally, the term means animals are raised in natural conditions and allowed to roam. But, more officially, it means animals have access to the outdoors. This means they may still spend time indoors or confined.
Regenerative meat: Meat that comes from livestock raised on farms that use regenerative agriculture practices, which focus on improving soil health, biodiversity, and natural ecosystems. Learn more about this topic in our deep dive into regenerative meat!
Pin this infographic on sustainable meat labels for later
When considering animal welfare, your best bet is usually grass-finished or 100% grass-fed.
However, this does not necessarily mean the meat is organic, because animals may still have received antibiotics or growth hormones.
If you want to avoid these, keep an eye out for organic labels, which can also have boons for the environment.
Health Benefits of Organic Meat
Meat from a stress-free animal not only improves the quality of the product but is healthier too.
And the elimination of toxic chemicals in organic farming is also good for our health as this is not something we want to be regularly putting into our bodies.
Reducing the amount of chemicals in our food is also good for farmworkers and surrounding communities that not only eat the food, but are also impacted by the local air, soil, and water quality.
Similarly, choosing grass-fed over grain-fed has benefits for your health and that of the animal.
Environmental Impact of Choosing Organic Meat
Meat’s impact on the environment has received a lot of attention in recent years.
The need for grain and feed, and even pastures for grazing, means land is cleared, contributing to deforestation.
Then there are cow burps that emit methane, leading to increased greenhouse gas emissions. While meat production has many problems of its own, its other issues are not exclusive to the industry.
This refers to the use of toxic chemicals, which lead to air and water pollution.
Because organic meat is produced with less or no toxic chemicals, it results in reduced pollution from fertilizer or pesticide runoff.
Organic practices improve air, water, and soil quality, and even sequester carbon.
By implementing practices such as rotational grazing and using cover crops, more carbon is returned to the soil.
The latter, however, is not so much an added benefit, but more a way of canceling out the increased methane produced due to cows leading longer lives.
While conventional animal farming typically produces higher yields, thus requiring less land, this usually comes at the cost of the animals’ welfare, ultimately affecting the meat’s quality.
Feeding cattle grain interferes with their digestion, raising acidity levels and allowing bacteria to thrive.
And choosing meat that has no antibiotics is important in preventing antibiotic resistance in animals and humans.
Another health benefit of organic meat is the presence of less fat, which can make the meat easier to digest.
In addition, organic meat has higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants, which can be good for your hearth and help protect against diseases, respectively.
The Difference Between USDA-certified Meat and Meat Raised with Organic Practices
Now that you’re out shopping for meat or ordering it online, you may be keeping your eyes peeled for organic labels. You’ll likely spot USDA labels.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is the federal organization that regulates the inspection and standards of the meat, poultry, and egg industry.
They require that a certified product contain no pesticides, GMOs, fertilizers, antibiotics, or growth hormones, and must be produced without the use of ionizing radiation and sewage sludge.
Pin this infographic on organic meat for later!
Animals must have access to the outdoors and measures put in place to protect the environment.
However, that’s not to say that a lack of certification on a product means the meat is not organic.
There are non-certified sustainable family farms and meat producers that implement organic farming practices.
The reason for their not having certification usually comes down to expense, extra paperwork, or size.
As long as an operation is of a certain size and implements organic practices, they may be labeled organic, just not certified organic.
Both certified organic and organic practices are a great option when selecting organic food over conventional.
Try checking your local farmer’s market for farms that have meat with raised organic practices.
Hopefully this guide has helped inform you of the differences between conventional and organic meat. Consider exploring our list of organic meat delivery services if you’re interested in switching to organic meats and consider reading some of the guides below to find more options.
Organic Food & Sustainable Cooking Guides:
MEET THE AUTHOR
Claudia Hauter is a South African writer, copy editor, and content creator with degrees in Drama and Anthropology. She works in television managing web content. When she isn’t reading or writing, she’s walking her dog, finding small businesses and markets to support, or attracting butterflies and bees with her vegetable garden. Learn from Claudia on Twitter or Instagram.
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