Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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Since federal law in the US requires cows to be grass fed (pastured) at least 4 months out of the year, a company can be slick with their labeling and say "grass fed". Maybe as a community we can all start advocating for % of grass fed to be labeled.

flag	asked Aug 19 2011 at 0:16 George Brodie 169●2

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I agree this labeling is a problem. Testing of my meat has revealed problems – The Quilt Aug 19 2011 at 0:30

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For beef to be considered "American Grassfed", their standards from 2009 state that: "Grass and forage shall be the feed source consumed for the lifetime of the ruminant animal, with the exception of milk consumed prior to weaning. The diet shall be derived solely from forage consisting of grass (annual and perennial), forbs (e.g. Legumes, Brassica), browse, or cereal grain crops in the vegetative (pre-grain) state. Animals cannot be fed grain or grain byproducts (starch and protein sources) and must have continuous access to pasture." We should look for the AGA label on beef. – Priscilla Aug 23 2011 at 19:10

Philosophe · Answer 1 · 2011-08-19 06:17:36Z UTC

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Get to know a farmer who raises their own grass raised and finished beef, buy a lot of it and keep it in your freezer. Problem solved... know your farmer.

answered Aug 19 2011 at 6:17

Philosophe
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Your thinking a lot of people here can judge the quality of cattle raising operation? – Don Aug 19 2011 at 15:14

Marilyn Noble · Answer 2 · 2011-08-23 18:02:03Z UTC

Rather than looking for USDA-certified grassfed labeling, look for certification from the American Grassfed Association. All AGA-certified livestock is fed a diet of grass and forage from weaning until harvest and is raised exclusively on pasture. Visit the web site to find an AGA-certified producer and to learn more. www.americangrassfed.org

Cory151 · Answer 3 · 2011-08-19 02:47:58Z UTC

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Dr.Cordain mentions that grass fed meat will have an orange-ish color to the fat, from the Beta Carotene in the grass. I have yet to see any fat which has that though.

answered Aug 19 2011 at 2:47

Cory151
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Scott · Answer 4 · 2011-08-23 22:18:40Z UTC

What federal law does the original question refer to? I am not familiar with any "four month law." The USDA labeling standard for Grass (Forage) Fed is straight forward - paraphrasing here but can post entire standard if requested -- grass and forage only for lifetime of animal, except milk during weaning, continuous access to pasture during growing season, no grain or grain byproducts at any time.

Grass fed percentages

4 Answers