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Organically grown beef? There's
more to the label than you might know
By Riki Richards
October 15, 2007 | Whether it is a miscommunication
or a misunderstanding, most people have no idea what
it means to be eating organically grown beef. The misconception
is that organically grown animals have better lives
than non-organic.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has regulations
for every livestock animal or crop grown in America
in its National Organic Program. The regulations for
beef cattle are as follows:
• The animal must be born and raised on a certified
organic pasture.
• The animal must never receive antibiotics.
• The animals are never given growth-promoting hormones,
such as Bovine Somatotropin or bST which is used in
dairy cows to increase milk production.
• The animal must only be fed certified organic grains
and grasses.
• The animal must have unrestricted outdoor access.
• The animal must receive humane treatment.
One of these regulations completely contradicts another.
Not administering antibiotics to a sick animal is as
inhumane as it gets. I don't understand how someone
can stand by and watch an animal suffer while the power
to save its life is just one shot of penicillin away.
Organic food consumers are given the impression that
organically grown animals are treated better because
they must be raised "humanely." However, I
have known a lot of livestock producers and the animals
that they raise are their livelihood. Farming and ranching
are what feeds their family and what keeps a roof over
their head. For this reason any producers in their right
mind treats their animals humanely whether they are
required to or not. It brings to mind the expression
"Don’t bite the hand that feeds you."
I think that all consumers need to know more about
where their food comes from and what some of these new
labels mean. Certified organic, naturally grown and
locally grown all have their benefits, but they can
also have downsides that aren’t widely publicized. Informed
consumers are safe consumers so everyone needs to just
do a little research.
MS
MS
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