Grass fed vs grain fed: is there a difference, or are producers siphoning my money? Many health-conscious individuals, I’m sure, have at least looked into grass fed products, but how legit are the claims made on the many pages that come up on a google search?
What does “grass fed” mean?
The Food Safety and Inspection Service is the organization that regulates the “grass fed” claim label, and producers have to submit various descriptions to be approved to use the label. FSIS requires that companies who use the “grass fed” label must allow their animals (after the weaning process) access to pasture until the time of slaughter, so they can eat various plants on the property. Some of these plants include grass, hay, forbs, baleage, etc. If there’s an incident in which the animal gets supplemental feed that isn’t considered “foraged,” the producer has to provide a document that lets the company checking on them know that the supplemental feed isn’t routine.
Under normal circumstances, if the animal does not have complete access to grass or forage, the producer has to declare it one the label. This might look like “Made from cows fed 85% grass and 15% corn” or “Grass finished.”
Looking at cost
Non-organic, grass-fed ground beef is around $5-9/lb for 80-85% lean. Regular ground beef is about $4-5/lb, with similar leanness. Of course, buying in bulk can change these numbers some, but overall, grass fed beef is a little more expensive.
Looking at quality
Okay, so now the details everyone wants to know. Is grass fed beef actually healthier than regular?
A study looking at fatty acid and antioxidant content in grass and grain fed beef, concluded that research over three decades indicates that grass fed beef has a better saturated fatty acid lipid profile than grain fed beef. It also concluded that grass fed beef is higher in certain antioxidants, as well as precursors for certain vitamins. Another study showed that people who ate grass fed animals instead of grain fed animals had higher omega 3s.
Worth it?
So, is it worth it to buy grass fed beef over regular? If it’s accessible and in a similar price range, absolutely. If it’s going to stress you out and drain your bank account, no. You can get omega 3s and antioxidants from other foods, and if you’re worried about saturated fat, drain your meat after cooking. If it’s something you’re eating every day, vary your meats to include chicken and seafood. Variety is important.
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