As a consumer looking for healthy, natural beef, you may have questions about terms like “grass fed” and “grass finished” beef. This is especially true for Simple Truth beef, which is grass fed but not labeled grass finished. In this article, we’ll take a detailed look at what these terms mean and whether Simple Truth beef is 100% grass fed.
Grass Fed Beef Basics
Grass fed beef comes from cattle that eat only grass and other foraged foods their entire lives after being weaned from their mother’s milk This contrasts with conventional grain fed beef cattle that are transitioned from grass to an intensive grain diet to fatten them up and add marbling to the meat
There are several benefits associated with grass fed beef
- More omega-3 fatty acids
- Higher levels of antioxidants
- Improved animal welfare
- More environmentally sustainable
However, grass fed beef tends to be lower in fat and can have a different flavor profile than grain fed beef.
What is Grass Finished Beef?
Grass finished beef refers specifically to cattle that were fed grass and foraged foods right up until slaughter. This guarantees the meat comes from animals that were never transitioned to grain feeding.
Some beef that is labeled “grass fed” may be fed grass only at certain stages, but then finished with grain for the last few months leading up to processing. Grass finished indicates 100% grass from birth to slaughter.
Is Simple Truth Grass Fed Beef Also Grass Finished?
Simple Truth beef is marketed as grass fed, which means the cattle spend the majority of their lives on open pasture eating grass. However, the Simple Truth label does not currently indicate it is grass finished.
Based on consumer inquiries, it appears Simple Truth grass fed beef cattle are grain finished for around 120 days prior to slaughter. So while the meat is predominately grass fed, it is likely not 100% grass finished due to this brief grain feeding period right before processing.
Why Grass Finish Matters to Some Consumers
For many consumers looking for more natural, healthier beef, grass finished is preferred over grass fed since it guarantees:
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The animals ate only their natural grass diet from start to finish.
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No exposure to routine antibiotics used in feedlots.
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No need to adapt their digestive system to heavy grain.
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Meat has a more balanced omega-6 to omega-3 ratio.
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Superior flavor since cattle are not pushed for fast weight gain.
However, grass finished beef is typically more expensive and has a more variable flavor profile than grain finished.
How to Identify Truly Grass Finished Beef
Look for the American Grassfed Association (AGA) certified logo or Animal Welfare Approved (AWA) seal which indicate audited standards for 100% grass fed and grass finished beef production. Terms like grass fed, grass finished, and pasture raised are not legally defined, so third party certification helps ensure authenticity.
You can also ask your local farmer’s market vendors detailed questions about their feeding protocols. Small local farms are more likely to produce genuine grass finished beef.
Is Simple Truth Still a Good Option?
At the end of the day, Simple Truth grass fed beef still provides meat from cattle that were humanely raised eating a primarily natural, grass diet free of hormones and routine antibiotics. While not meeting the grass finished gold standard, it is still an excellent option over conventional grain fed beef in terms of nutrition and responsible farming practices.
For shoppers specifically wanting meat from cattle that were never exposed to any grains, then seeking out certified grass finished beef would be recommended. But Simple Truth remains a great entry point into grass fed beef at accessible prices for most consumers.
Enjoying the Benefits of Grass Fed Beef
Beef from cattle allowed to graze freely on open pastures and eating only grass provides meat that is nutritious, ethical, and sustainable. While authentic grass finished beef takes this approach one step further, grass fed still delivers many advantages. As you venture into the world of natural beef, look at options like Simple Truth to transition to a healthier diet and support responsible farming.
Grass-Fed vs. Grass-Finished Beef: Big Difference
What is the difference between grass-finished beef and grass-fed beef?
Grass-finished beef comes from cows that exclusively eat grass and forage their entire lives. Grass-fed beef, on the other hand, can mean cattle that started on the grass and then were fed a supplemental grain diet or ended their lives eating grain.
What does ‘grass-fed’ beef mean?
‘Grass-fed’ beef comes from cattle that ate only grass, but it doesn’t guarantee they were grass-finished. It’s like a grassy tease. ‘Grass-finished’ beef means the cows ate grass until slaughter, providing extra nutrients. It’s like the gold standard of grassy goodness. To summarize, Organic means natural but not necessarily grassy.
Is grass-fed beef healthier than grain-fed?
Grass-fed and grain-fed beef do still contain important nutrients like vitamin B, protein, iron, and zinc, but grain-fed beef contains four times more saturated fats than grass-finished beef, which is not healthy. And now, onto grass-fed’s rightful superior, grass-finished. What is grass-finished beef?
Is butcherbox beef grass-fed or grass-finished?
This is why, at ButcherBox, we emphasize that our meat is grass-fed AND grass-finished. The distinction is important. When a consumer buys grass-fed beef, the belief is that the product they are purchasing comes from cattle raised on a pure grass and forage diet.