So you’re at the supermarket, standing in the chilly wasteland of the meat aisle. You’re looking at all the options and wondering how do you really know which brand or label is better for the environment, the animal and your body. Perhaps wondering if there is any substantial difference at all.
杂货店里的肉类最大的问题是完全缺乏透明度。大型肉类公司与数千家不同的农场经营者签订合同。不可避免地,他们的道德实践各不相同。没有办法从包装中的肉来区分它来自哪个农场或肉类加工厂,甚至是哪个州或国家。In 2016, federal Country of Origin Labelling laws (COOL laws)were loosenedso that ground beef and pork no long had to be labelled with the country where they were produced.
该行业积极投资隐藏其运营的细节,同时宣传快乐动物的形象,并使用“自然”和“放牧”等词汇。2022欧洲杯葡萄牙vs德国在这种故意误导和隐瞒的情况下,像你我这样的消费者不得不依靠广告、图像和标签来辨别肉类的质量。
然而,有一些有意义的区别和标签,比如有机肉,会改变肉的质量。让我们来分析一下帮助你在杂货店买肉时做出选择的各种因素。
Packaged Meat Brands
The most obvious difference between cuts of meat is the company that sold it. As with most of our consumer choices, typically we buy one brand of meat, and keep buying it unless something drastic changes our habits.
However, the difference between brands is not always as big as companies would like us to think. For example,Tyson foods owns the brandsJimmy Dean, Sara Lee, State Fair, Aidells, and Hillshire Farms, just to name a few. In fact,four companies, including Tyson, produce 85% of America’s beef, and a majority of pork. Just three companies, also including Tyson, dominate chicken production.
人们选择一个特定品牌的原因有很多——也许它是你当地杂货店里唯一卖的。也许是你小时候吃过的。Maybe you read an article about the company’sunique approach to animal health.
You might choose to avoid companies that have been accused of violating human rights, having poor environmental practices, or companies that have had numerous product recalls. A Google search will turn up damning reports about all major meat processing companies. If you find something worrying, be sure to look for a second source to verify that information. Not all whistle-blowing journalism is created equal.
The reality is that meat companies have so many products and provide so little information about them, that a brand name is not a good metric for meat quality. The question then becomes, what claims and labels do we trust?
Certifications and labels on food fall into two broad categories: third-party certifications, and federally-regulated claims.
Third-Party Certification Labels
Third-party certifications are awarded by groups—both for- and non-profit—that do their own examinations and then allow a company to use their label. Examples include:
- Non-GMO Project Verified
- Salmon Safe
- Certified Humane
- Animal Welfare Approved
- The 5-Step Animal Welfare Rating Program
这些验证背后的严谨性因组织而异,所以在依赖任何这些标签之前,有必要研究提供这些标签的组织。这些组织知道他们正在接受审查,他们渴望告诉你他们的严格标准。
From the homepage of any third-party certification site it should be easy to find their requirements and their verification process. Let’s look at a two of the most common third-party labels.
Non-GMO Project
Non-GMO Project is a non-profit which uses a blue label with a butterfly that you’ll see in all aisles of the grocery store, not just the meat section. With a list ofproducts a mile long, Non-GMO Project proudly claims to be the “most trusted seal for GMO avoidance,” although most of the products it labels are also certified organic, which makes it redundant, since organic regulations prohibit GMOs.
To verify products, Non-GMO Project contracts withfour different laboratory companiesthat evaluateGM content in food. The labs are third-party for-profit companies in their own right, although you’ve probably never heard of any of them. They specialize in genetic testing and “standard-setting” for food of all kinds.
这些实验室将验证结果发回给“非转基因项目”(Non-GMO Project),该项目发布了它们无处不在的蝴蝶标签。一旦被贴上非转基因标签,被批准的产品必须每年重新验证,产品所有者支付许可费,以支持非转基因组织。
Certified Humane
The Certified Humane label is an extremely rigorous standard for animal welfare. It is a more complicated and nuanced standard than the Non-GMO label. They are a non-profit, and their own team conducts all evaluations. This lessens the chance of conflicts of interest with businesses.
Certified Humane has separate standards for eachvariety of animal. The requirements for each type of animal operation is dozens of pages long.
每一套标准都是由来自全国各地农业大学的兽医和博士组成的庞大团队编制的。其中包括住房、饲料、医疗和人道屠杀的规范。对于像猪这样特别聪明、好奇的动物,要求包括“充实”——2022欧洲杯葡萄牙vs德国玩具和其他刺激来提高生活质量。
每一个农场操作都由认证人道主义员工在评估文件后进行检查。I personally have a great deal of trust and respect for the Certified Humane label, and my partner and I are working hard atour hog operationtoward meeting their exacting standards.
Federal Certifications
These are labels regulated and enforced by state and federal agencies. Depending on your attitude toward government, you may find these more or less reliable than third-party certification. Regardless, they are consistent throughout the country, and requirements are clear.
There is a common misconception that labels like “all-natural” are not defined, supervised or enforced by any regulatory agency. In fact, these fall intoa category called “special claims,”它是由食品安全检验局(FSIS)的一个机构松散管理的。
These statements include common labels on meat, like “antibiotic-free”, “vegetarian-fed”, “cage-free” and “local”. To put these labels on a product requiresdocumentation, and verification through FSIS. Not all terms regulated are equally well-defined, and the verification relies on a paper trail rather than farm inspections, but it is worth knowing that these terms are regulated, however loosely.
By far the most visible and trusted certification is the organic label. The word “organic” is entirely regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), which is separate from the FSIS. It is illegal to use the word, much less the logo, on non-certified products. Certified organic farms have annual inspections and work closely with a regulator to ensure that all parts of their operation meet organic standards.
Is The “Organic” Label Worth Paying Extra For?
Organic meat is markedly more expensive than other meat, including products that claim to be pasture-raised and antibiotic-free. So how much of a difference does that label really make, and is the high price worth it?
The biggest difference between organic and non-organic animals is that organic livestock are fed only certified organic feed. So if you are worried about your environmental impact, choosing to eat organic meat will significantly reduce the toxic chemicals used in the production of grain that was fed to the animals on your table.
Organic grain is a major factor in the high cost of organic meat. Organic feed costs anywhere from30% to 100% more per pound.
The other major difference is how the animals are treated medically and what medicines can be administered. A concern for many consumers is feeding prophylactic antibiotics as a routine preventative measure against illness, which can become common in crowded, confined animal operations.
未经验证的“无抗生素”标签解决了这个问题,但有机标签保证动物从未被喂食抗生素或其他种类的杀虫剂。2022欧洲杯葡萄牙vs德国然而,如果有机动物生病了,就不能尝试用有机方法治疗它们。它们要么被杀死,要么用传统药物治疗,然后作为传统肉类出售。这种选择取决于农场的结构,以及将动物从有机生产转移到传统生产的容易程度。
There are a few animal welfare stipulations that are part of the organic label. They vary depending on the variety of animal, and on the ethics of the farmer. It’s not uncommon for producers to follow the letter of the law rather than the spirit.
For example,organic standards for poultrystate that all birds must have access to the outdoors. In response to this requirement, some producers build small doors in just one part of a chicken house that is hundreds of square feet, and most chickens never even find the outdoor area.
On the other hand, for organic cattle, regulations are stricter. In2010, the USDA clarified the organic standards规定所有有机反刍动物必须在每年至少120天的“放牧季节”在牧场上放牧。这是有机认证实施的一个更有意义的要求。
If you are willing to invest the time, read up on the organic requirements for various kinds of meat production. Familiarize yourself with what organic really means, and you will be able to judge for yourself how when the organic label is worth it, and when other labels will suffice.
Eating well and buying food that is good for our bodies, our planet, and the animals can feel like an overwhelming task. But labels and certifications are there to help you. If you see an unfamiliar label, take the time to whip out your phone and look it up—you will know lots more about what you buy and what you eat.
Tad Davissays
I found this article very helpful, thanks for taking the time to research and write it