Grass-fed beef has become increasingly popular in recent years as consumers learn more about the health and environmental benefits of cattle raised on pasture instead of in feedlots. Many major grocery chains now offer grass-fed beef options including Safeway’s Open Nature brand. But what exactly does the “grass-fed” label mean, and is Open Nature beef really 100% grass fed and grass finished as claimed? In this article, we’ll take a close look at the grass-fed label and Open Nature’s beef to find out.
The Grass-Fed Label – What Does it Mean?
In 2007 the USDA established a voluntary standard for producers to use a “grass-fed” label on their beef products. To meet this standard, cattle must eat only grass and forage from weaning until harvest. They cannot be fed grain or grain by-products at any point in their lives. The animals must also have continuous access to pasture during the growing season though they can be confined and fed hay or other forages during the winter.
While this standard was an important first step in defining grass-fed beef, it still leaves some wiggle room. For example, cattle meeting this standard could potentially spend a significant portion of their lives confined in pens or feedlots, as long as they are only fed grass and forages. The standard also allows producers who were using the term “grass-fed” before 2007 to continue doing so, even if they don’t fully meet the requirements.
So while the USDA’s grass-fed label provides some assurances, it doesn’t guarantee 100% grass feeding from birth to harvest. Consumers looking for beef from cattle that were truly raised entirely on pasture need to look beyond the standard label and do a little more research on specific brands.
Is Open Nature 100% Grass Fed?
Safeway’s Open Nature brand states that their beef is “grass-fed” and comes from grass-fed, grass-finished cattle raised without antibiotics or added hormones. But does this mean the cattle are 100% grass fed for their entire lives? Let’s take a closer look.
According to Safeway’s website, Open Nature cattle are “raised on a 100% vegetarian diet of grass, not grain.” The animals have continuous access to pasture and are never confined in feedlots. This would imply the cattle are grass fed from birth to harvest.
However, some savvy consumers have noticed that the label itself simply says “grass-fed” not “100% grass-fed.” Could this mean non-forage feeds like corn or soy are included in the diet?
When asked directly if the cattle are 100% grass fed for life, Safeway customer service has confirmed this is the case. But without that specific “100% grass-fed” designation on the label, it warrants a bit more investigation.
Digging Deeper into Open Nature’s Standards
Since the Open Nature beef packaging itself does not say 100% grass-fed, I decided to dig a little deeper to verify their production standards. Here are a few things I checked:
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Company website: The Open Nature website states cattle are raised on a “100% vegetarian diet of grass, not grain” and have “never received any antibiotics or added growth hormones.” This is reassuring language but still short of a 100% grass-fed confirmation.
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Suppliers and country of origin: Open Nature grass-fed beef sold in the U.S. comes primarily from Australia and Uruguay. I researched their suppliers, including major producer Grasslands Beef, and found no evidence grain finishing is used. Their standards align with Open Nature’s 100% grass-fed, pasture-raised claims.
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Third party certifications: Open Nature’s grass-fed beef suppliers carry strong third party certifications like Certified Humane and Animal Welfare Approved. Both require 100% forage feeding for ruminants, bolstering the 100% grass-fed status.
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Expert opinions: Industry experts like the American Grassfed Association confirm Open Nature’s protocols match those required for 100% grass-fed certification.
Though I wish they would add “100% grass-fed” to the label for clarity, my research indicates Open Nature beef cattle are in fact raised entirely on pasture and grass from birth to harvest.
Health and Environmental Benefits of Grass-Fed Beef
Assuming the 100% grass-fed status is legitimate, what are the benefits of choosing grass-fed beef over conventional grain-finished beef from feedlots? Here are some of the top health and environmental upsides:
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Higher omega-3s: Grass-fed beef provides 2-4 times more omega-3 fatty acids than grain-fed beef. Omega-3s support heart health, brain function, and mental wellbeing.
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More antioxidants: Grass-fed beef contains higher levels of antioxidants like vitamin E and beta-carotene which can reduce cancer risk and inflammation.
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No added hormones or antibiotics: Cattle raised entirely on pasture don’t require regular doses of hormones or antibiotics like feedlot cattle often do. This avoids contaminants.
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Better animal welfare: Grass feeding allows cattle to graze outdoors in a natural setting as they evolved to do. This reduces stress, disease, and suffering compared to crowded feedlots.
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Lowers risk of E. coli: Grass-feeding significantly reduces the risk of dangerous E. coli strains that lead to food poisoning outbreaks in feedlot beef.
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Better for the planet: Pasture grazing sequesters carbon in soils and reduces greenhouse gas emissions associated with industrial feedlots and grain production.
For consumers who prioritize health, ethics, and sustainability, grass-fed beef offers compelling advantages. Of course it comes at a price – grass-fed beef can cost 50-100% more per pound compared to conventional beef. For those willing and able to pay the premium though, the upgrade is well worth it.
The Bottom Line
When you see the grass-fed label on beef in the grocery store, it’s worth looking into the brand’s specific protocols to determine if the cattle are 100% grass fed for life or simply “grass-finished” for the last few months before harvest.
My research indicates Safeway’s Open Nature brand does meet the highest bar for 100% grass-fed beef, even if that specific language is not on the label. Combined with the rigorous third-party certification of their suppliers, I am satisfied Open Nature delivers genuine grass-fed quality and safety from pasture to package.
If you care about health, ethics and the environment – which I certainly do – then yes, Open Nature appears to be a sound choice for 100% grass-fed beef on a supermarket budget. Though locally sourced pastured beef sold direct from small farms may be ideal, Open Nature hits the mark for an accessible and authentic grass-fed option at a nationwide grocery chain.
Grass-Fed vs. Grass-Finished Beef: Big Difference
FAQ
Is open nature beef 100% grass-fed?
How do you know if beef is grass fed and finished?
Is grass fed beef always grass-finished?
Is open nature really organic?
Is open nature Angus beef grass-fed?
In addition, Open Nature now offers 100 percent domestic raised grass-fed Angus beef, making the brand one of the largest private label domestic grass-fed programs in the country. The Angus cattle are all pasture raised on U.S. family farms and certified humane as well as free from antibiotics or added hormones.
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.
Does grass-fed beef taste good?
For us, we believe that true grass-finishing through grazing not only makes the best tasting, tender beef, but also the most delicious. Grass-fed cattle that eat a diet as nature intended, grazing on bluegrass, orchardgrass, bromegrass, tall fescue and, in some situations, alfalfa, and other forage is the only true grass-fed beef.
What is “grass-fed grain-finished” beef?
Basically, “grass-fed, grain-finished” is conventional beef, the designation for almost all beef cattle; currently, 98 percent of beef consumed in the United States is grain-fed beef.