WHAT IS 100% GRASS FED?
For beef to be labeled "100% grass fed," it must be fed only grass and other forages for its entire life after weaning, with no grain or grain by-products. Animals must have continuous access to pasture during the growing season, and they cannot be confined to a feedlot. The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is responsible for approving the accuracy of these claims, which are often supported by third-party audits.
Key requirements for 100% grass-fed beef:
Diet: The animals' diet must be derived solely from forage, including grass, forbs (like legumes), and browse.
Grain-free: The animals cannot be fed grain or grain by-products at any point after weaning.
Pasture access: Cattle must have continuous access to pasture during the growing season.
No confinement: Animals cannot be confined to a feedlot for any portion of their lives.
Labeling: Products that don't meet these criteria cannot use the "grass-fed" label. For example, beef that is partially grain-fed might be labeled "85% grass fed," as clarified by Northern Ag Network.
Important considerations:
Third-party verification: While the USDA sets the labeling standards, a third-party auditor is often involved in verifying these claims, as outlined by the Grass-Fed Small & Very Small Producer Program.
"Organic" vs. "Grass-fed": A product can be both organic and grass-fed, but a grass-fed label does not automatically mean it is organic. Organic requirements involve additional rules, such as prohibiting antibiotics, hormones, and genetically engineered ingredients, as detailed on the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service website.
"Pasture-raised": The term "pasture-raised" is not the same as "grass-fed." While pasture-raised animals have access to the outdoors, they may still be fed grain, and the label doesn't guarantee they were raised 100% on forage.