How to Be a Conscious Eater

Bottom line: You’re best off with a third-party-verified stamp.

According to Consumer Reports, two of the most meaning-

ful labels for grass-fed products are “American Grassfed” and

“PCO Certified 100% GrassFed”:

“American Grassfed.” This means the cow—or goat,

lamb, or other animal—really ate only grass or forage

(or hay in winter, which is dried grass). The exception

is when they (rightfully) had milk from their mother

before they were weaned. Certified by the American

Grassfed Association, it also means animals were raised

only on pasture.

“PCO Certified 100% GrassFed.” This label applies only to

beef and dairy products from cows, so it means the cat-

tle really ate only grass or forage (or hay in winter). It’s

provided by the Pennsylvania Certified Organic organi-

zation and is a reminder that the healthy diets of dairy

cows involve many of the similar benefits as those of

beef cattle.

To sum up, grass-fed red meat and dairy products are

good—because they’re more nutritious, lower in calories, and

better for the animals—but not great, because the net green-

house gas emissions aren’t yet clear, and you’re still eating red

meat and dairy products.

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