Understanding the “Grass-Fed” Meat Label

If you stroll down the meat aisle at the grocery store, you’ll find a variety of different labels on meat packages. It’s important to understand what these labels actually mean and whether or not the company actually follows what they claim to be doing.

“Grass Fed” labels imply that the animals have been fed an exclusive diet of grass and other forage.

“Grass-fed” labels might imply that the animals have been fed an exclusive diet of grass and other forage. But sometimes this claim may be misleading or simply untrue, which can lead customers to pay more for products simply for the label.

Sarah Blacklin, N.C. Cooperative Extension educator and program director at N.C. Choices, explains what “grass-fed” really means and how to interpret the label when purchasing meats.

Meat Label Resources