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Grass fed (USDA)
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| LABEL REPORT CARD |
| How meaningful is the label? |
Is the label verified? |
Is the meaning of the label consistent? |
Are the label standards publicly available? |
Is information about the organization publicly available? |
Is the organization free from conflict of interest? |
Was the label developed with broad public and industry input? |
| Somewhat1 |
No2 |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No3 |
Yes |
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1. If accompanied by USDA-verification*, the claim is highly meaningful.
2. If accompanied by USDA-verification*, the claim is independently verified.
3. If accompanied by USDA-verification*, the claim is free of conflict of interest.
*Verification is indicated by the “USDA Process Verified" shield
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LABEL CATEGORY:
General Claims |
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WHERE YOU'LL FIND THIS GENERAL CLAIM:
 FOOD
MEAT
: beef, lamb
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WHAT THIS GENERAL CLAIM MEANS:
The “grass-fed” claim is defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for meat from ruminant animals, including cows and lamb, and USDA-verification is voluntary. The standards went into effect on November 15, 2007. The claim means that animals were raised on a lifetime diet of 100% grass and forage (with the exception of milk consumed prior to weaning), including legumes and cereal grain crops. Animals must have access to pasture during most of the growing season, and cannot be fed grain or grain products, which can diminish the nutritive benefits of grass feeding. The standard does not exclude the use of antibiotics and hormones, which are covered under separate standards.
Since verification is voluntary, only products with the “USDA Process Verified" shield, along with the claim, “U.S. Grass-fed,” have been verified by the USDA. The shield indicates that the farms were physically inspected and verified to meet the grass-fed standards. Producers that wish to use the new grass-fed claim without verification must submit to the USDA an affidavit of intent documenting that their practices meet the standards.
A word of caution: Prior to the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) 100% grass-fed standard, grass-fed claims were overseen by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), but there were no standards and no independent verification, although FSIS has the ability to verify grass-fed claims through the Office of Field Operations or the Office of Program Evaluation and Review. According to the USDA, grass-fed claims that were approved by the FSIS prior to the AMS standards will be grandfathered in. That means FSIS will retain oversight of those claims and they do not have to meet the 100% grass-fed standards. However, all new submissions to FSIS for a grass-fed claim must meet the AMS standards.
The USDA had originally proposed an 80% grass-fed standard in December, 2002. Many groups, including Consumers Union, asked the USDA to withdraw that standard. As a result of comments received, the USDA determined significant modifications were needed, and withdrew the proposed standard. Over the next several years, multi-stakeholder dialogues were held that eventually resulted in the 100% grass-fed standard.
Studies suggest that meat from grass-fed animals with access to pastures may provide more health benefits than meat from grain- and corn-fed animals. For instance, when compared to conventionally produced beef, grass-fed beef tends to contain less fat overall, as well as higher levels of certain fats that appear to provide health benefits, such as omega-3 fatty acids. In addition, grass-fed cows—raised without eating animal byproducts—have less risk of exposure to the mad cow disease infectious agent.
Note that there are two additional labels found on beef that provide a reasonably reliable guarantee that it comes from animals less likely to carry mad cow disease — USDA organic and Biodynamic (trademarked). Those labels indicate that the cattle were never fed certain animal by-products – blood, organ parts, and nerve tissue – that are the chief means of transmitting this brain-wasting illness. But you may have to shop outside your supermarket to find beef with those labels.
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WHO VERIFIES THIS GENERAL CLAIM?
The USDA
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CONSUMERS UNION EVALUATION:
How meaningful is the claim?
The grass-fed claim on meat from ruminant animals, including beef and lamb, is only considered "Somewhat meaningful" without the “USDA Process Verified" shield. Because grass-fed claims that were approved by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) prior to the new Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) standards can still be used on products and do not have to meet the new 100% grass-fed standards, the claim is not necessarily meaningful on those products. Consumers Union has made a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to obtain a list of products with grass-fed claims approved under FSIS. Additionally, because the grass-fed standards are only defined for ruminant animal meat, including cows and lamb, the claim is not necessarily meaningful on dairy, pork, or poultry products. In those cases, you would need to contact the producer for more information about their claim(s).
If the claim is accompanied by the "USDA Process Verified" shield, then it is considered "Highly meaningful." The shield indicates that farms were inspected by USDA to meet the new standards. For the highest level of assurance, consumers should look for products with the shield.
Does an organization verify that the claim standards are met?
No. Verification of the grass-fed claim is voluntary. Grass-fed claims with verification will be accompanied by the “USDA Process Verified" shield.
Is the meaning of the claim consistent?
No. Claims that were approved by FSIS prior to the AMS standards do not have to meet the 100% grass-fed standards. Therefore, the grass-fed claim on beef and lamb products may not all mean the same thing. Additionally, the claim is not consistent because there are no current standards for dairy, poultry, or pork, which may also carry grass-fed claims.
Are the claim standards publicly available?
Yes. The standards for this claim are published in the Oct. 16, 2007, Federal Register (PDF).
Is information about the standard organization publicly available?
Yes. For information about the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, click here.
Is the claim free from conflict of interest?
No. However, if the product carries the “USDA Process Verified" shield, the claim would be free of conflict of interest, since it is held accountable to the USDA, a disinterested third-party.
Was the claim developed with broad public and industry input?
Yes. The USDA’s grass-fed standards were developed in a multi-year process in which consumer and industry interests were represented before the USDA. The agency engaged with the public in earnest through focus groups, written comments, and other means.
Last reviewed: December 2007
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