Is Wahlburgers Beef Grass-Fed? Examining Their Beef Sourcing, Quality, and Safety

Wahlburgers has become a popular burger restaurant chain started by celebrity chef Paul Wahlberg and his famous brothers, Mark and Donnie Wahlberg. But an important question for health-conscious consumers is whether their beef is from grass-fed cattle. Let’s take a detailed look at where Wahlburgers gets their beef and if it meets grass-fed standards.

Overview of Wahlburgers Restaurants

First, some background on the Wahlburgers restaurant chain:

• Founded in 2011 and started as a single location in Hingham, Massachusetts.

• Now expanded to over 50 locations across the US and Canada.

• Owned by chef Paul Wahlberg and his brothers Mark and Donnie Wahlberg.

• Also the subject of a popular A&E reality show about the chain’s growth

• Known for casual dining with burgers as their signature item on the menu.

So Wahlburgers has quickly become a major player in the gourmet burger market. But where exactly does their beef come from?

Wahlburgers Beef Blend and Suppliers

Here are the key details on the beef used at Wahlburgers:

• They use a proprietary beef blend from multiple sources.

• The blend is 80% chuck, 10% brisket and 10% short rib.

• Suppliers include Creekstone Farms, Meyer Natural Foods, and others.

• Employ a team to audit suppliers for humane practices.

• Claim their beef is “responsibly raised” without antibiotics or hormones.

So they aren’t reliant on just one beef supplier and blend different cuts. But is any of the beef grass-fed?

Does Wahlburgers Use Grass-Fed Beef?

Regarding the grass-fed issue, here is what we know:

• Wahlburgers does not claim to use grass-fed beef on their menus or website.

• None of their main beef suppliers are marketing grass-fed beef.

• Their beef blend specifics imply conventionally grain-finished beef.

• Other healthy raising claims like no antibiotics are promoted instead.

So there is no good indication that Wahlburgers uses grass-fed beef currently based on their marketing and supplier relationships.

Benefits of Grass-Fed vs Grain-Fed Beef

To understand the grass-fed distinction more, here is how the two types compare:

• Grass-fed – Cattle eat grass entire lives. Higher in antioxidants. More omega-3s. Leaner with less saturated fat.

• Grain-fed – Finished on grain diet in feedlots. Fattier with more marbling. Lower in nutrients. Contains GMOs from corn feed.

• Taste – Grass-fed has a distinct grassy flavor. Grain-fed considered richer tasting.

• Price – Grass-fed costs more to produce and purchase. Grain-fed is more affordable.

So grass-fed provides more nutritional benefits, but the taste and price appeal of grain-fed beef is harder for major chains to ignore.

Health and Sustainability Impacts

There are also important health and environmental considerations:

• Grass-fed production is better for the environment due to regenerative grazing practices that sequester carbon in soil.

• Grass-fed cattle require fewer antibiotic treatments which reduces risk of resistance.

• Grass-fed beef contains higher levels of conjugated linoleic acid, a “good fat” that provides anti-inflammatory benefits in the body.

• Grass-fed avoids GMOs and pesticides used in corn and soy-based cattle feed.

Therefore, grass-fed beef has some clear advantages consumers may want. But supply chain hurdles exist.

Challenges for Chains to Source Grass-Fed Beef

Here are some of the obstacles making it difficult for a large chain like Wahlburgers to switch fully to grass-fed beef:

• Supply – Currently grass-fed makes up only a small fraction of U.S. beef production as most cattle are grain-finished. Significant supply chain ramp-up would be needed.

• Consistency – Providing consistent cuts and quality across hundreds of locations requires centralized sourcing and processing which is still developing for grass-fed.

• Price – Wholesale cost of grass-fed beef can be substantially higher than conventional. This would impact profit margins with pressure to raise menu prices.

• Taste – Grass-fed flavor profile is seen by some as requiring extra seasoning or marinades to match mainstream beef taste preferences.

So for now, major chains seem reluctant to take the plunge into 100% grass-fed until supply, cost and other factors are addressed. But some are starting to test the waters.

Is Progress Being Made Toward Grass-Fed at Chains?

Despite current barriers, there are some encouraging signs of progress:

• A few regional chains like Elevation Burger, Bareburger and BurgerFi are managing to offer 100% grass-fed beef across all locations.

• Chipotle introduced grass-fed beef as an option in 2020 citing customer demand. Though at a significant price premium.

• Panera Bread added a grass-fed steak menu item in 2019 and promotes the grass-fed difference.

• Consumer interest in grass-fed appears to be steadily growing.

So while the obstacles are still very real, some precedent has been set by smaller chains and menu experiments from larger players. This points toward grass-fed beef gaining more traction over time.

The Bottom Line on Wahlburgers and Grass-Fed Beef

Given the realities of their current supply chain relationships and lack of grass-fed claims, Wahlburgers restaurants apparently do not serve grass-fed beef as of now. The volume they require makes sourcing enough grass-fed beef prohibitively difficult. However, as more consumers learn about and demand the benefits of grass-fed meat, the chances improve that Wahlburgers may start incorporating more grass-fed beef blends and options in the future.