In recent years, the term “grass fed” has become a popular way to describe cattle that are raised on a diet of grass, rather than grain. The majority of cattle in the United States are actually grain-fed, so grass fed beef can be a bit of a rarity.
Trader Joe’s is one grocery store that offers grass fed beef to its customers. But is this beef really grass fed
According to the USDA, in order for cattle to be considered grass fed, they must have “continuous access to pasture during the growing season.” The cattle must also be fed a diet that is “primarily derived from forage.” So it seems that as long as the cattle have access to pasture and are eating mostly grass, they can be considered grass fed.
However, some experts say that the definition of grass fed beef is a bit more strict than that. They believe that cattle should only be considered grass fed if they eat nothing but grass their entire lives. This means that they should never be given any grain, even during the winter months.
So what does Trader Joe’s say about their grass fed beef According to their website, the beef comes from “cattle raised on family farms in Australia and New Zealand.”
The website also states that the cattle are “fed a 100% vegetarian diet and never given any antibiotics or hormones.” However, there is no mention of whether or not the cattle are given any grain.
So based on what we know, it seems that Trader Joe’s grass fed beef may not be 100%grass fed by some definitions. However, the beef is still likely to be much healthier than grain-fed beef, so it is still a good option for those looking for healthier meat options.
