The 10 Most Misleading Meat Labels and What You Need to Know
Do you know what the labels on your meat actually mean? Many of the claims we see—like “natural,” “grass-fed,” “cage-free,” and “organic”—are far less transparent than they seem.
In this episode of ReThink Meat, we take a closer look at 10 of the most commonly misunderstood labels and the verification processes behind them.
What you’ll learn:
- What “made in America” really means The truth about “raised without antibiotics” The difference between cage free, free range and pastured The limitations of grass fed and organic labels
- How oversight and loopholes impact what these labels truly represent.
- 4 practical tips for selecting meat that supports your health, the planet, and your values.
In just 18 minutes, this episode will give you the tools to make more informed and intentional choices, helping you align your purchases with what matters most to you.
Summary:
This video discusses ten commonly misunderstood meat labels, revealing how they can mislead consumers about the sourcing and production practices of meat products. It highlights the practices of greenwashing in the meat industry, where companies use terminology that misrepresents their practices to appeal to consumer demand for sustainable and humane options. The video also provides viewers with four steps to identify truly healthy and ethically raised meat.
Key Points
Grass-Fed Misconceptions
The label ‘grass-fed’ often doesn’t guarantee that cattle were only raised on grass, as it may include grain feeding and can include imported meat sold under this label. Therefore, consumers should be cautious and informed when selecting grass-fed products.
Misleading Terms
Common terms such as ‘natural’, ‘cage-free’, and ‘free-range’ often do not mean what consumers think they do, failing to accurately represent animal welfare or the conditions in which animals were raised. For example, cage-free does not mean outdoor access.
Antibiotics in Meat Production
Claims of ‘raised without antibiotics’ can still permit the use of various drugs, and testing for antibiotic residues often shows that antibiotic contamination is still present in many animal products.
Factory Farming Statistics
Over 90% of grocery store meats come from factory farms, and while niche markets for more ethical meat are growing slowly, the majority of the meat industry remains concentrated in large-scale operations.
Labeling and Regulations
The USDA’s regulation of labels is often inadequate, allowing misleading terms to proliferate without sufficient oversight. Some organizations recommend looking for third-party certifications to ensure better practices.
Consumer Responsibility
Consumers play a significant role in shaping the meat industry. By making informed choices about meat labels and seeking out genuinely ethical options, consumers can influence farming practices and support better animal welfare and environmental sustainability.
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references 1
ReThink Meat: And Confusing Meat Labels | episode eight Claim: The Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) of the USDA regulates food labels, often approving claims based on written descriptions rather than on-site visits, and has a history of lax regulation. Source: https://www.grubstreet.com/article/is-deli-meat-bad-for-you-lunch-meats-boars-head-recalls.html https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media_file/2020-10/Label-Approval-Guide.pdf
Claim: An Animal Welfare Institute report found that nearly half of 97 USDA-approved meat label claims had no application, a third provided no or inadequate evidence, and 85% lacked sufficient substantiation. Source: https://awionline.org/sites/default/files/publication/digital_download/Deceptive-Consumer-Labels-2023.pdf
Claim: Despite the vast array of labels designed to make you feel all warm & fuzzy about the meat you buy - almost 90% of grocery store meats come from factory farms.
Sources: https://ourworldindata.org/how-many-animals-are-factory-farmed#%3A~%3Atext=Nearly+all+livestock+animals+in+the+US+are+factory-farmed&text=It+makes+its+data+and%2Cwere+factory-farmed+in+2017.&text=That+was+10+billion+animals%2Cthan+the+global+human+populationClaim: In fact, according to 2017 estimates: 8.9 billion chickens, 520 million fish, 362 million egg laying hens, 285 million turkeys, 66 million cows and 71 million pigs, or over 10 billion animals were factory farmed, vs. 40 million that were not raised in factory farms. Sources: https://www.sentienceinstitute.org/us-factory-farming-estimates
Claim: And though niche markets are growing, only 4% of the 26 billion pounds of beef produced in 2023 was grass fed and less than 1% was actually labeled as such and up to 80% of grass-fed beef was imported. Sources: https://extension.sdstate.edu/grass-fed-beef-market-share-grass-fed-beef#%3A~%3Atext=About+4%25+of+U.S.+beef%2Cvalue+of+roughly+%244+billion
Claim: Consumer Reports found that 62% of consumers look for “natural” on labels, assuming it means no chemicals, artificial ingredients, pesticides, or GMOs. However, on meat labels, “natural” only means no artificial ingredients or added color and minimal processing, revealing nothing about the animal’s diet, living conditions, or harvesting methods. Sources: https://www.consumerreports.org/food-labeling/what-food-labels-mean-and-dont/
Claim: Contrary to popular belief, Product of America doesn’t guarantee domestic origin and meat could be imported and merely processed and packaged in the United States. And up to 80% of grass fed beef in America is actually imported from other countries… As was elucidated by Professor of Animal Science Doctor Jason Rountree.
Claim: Approximately 73% of antibiotics worldwide are used in animal agriculture, and though it suggests antibiotic free production, it’s not always foolproof. Variations like no antibiotic growth hormones or raised without medically important antibiotics may still allow use for disease prevention or non-human use antibiotics.
https://www.consumerreports.org/overuse-of-antibiotics/what-no-antibiotic-claims-really-mean/
Claim: A 2015 analysis by the Environmental Working Group also found that antibiotic resistant bacteria was on nearly 79% ground turkey, 71% pork chops, 62% beef, 36% chicken. Non-for-profit moms across America also found several veterinary antibiotics and compounds called ionophores, in fast food meat.
https://www.momsacrossamerica.com/_press-release Claim: Researchers from George Washington University and In-Dept also tested 669 cattle within the “No Antibiotics Ever” program overseen by the USDA and found that 15% of the animals still tested positive for at least one antibiotic. They also found that 26% of cattle a in Global Animal Partnership Program, had also received antibiotics.
Sources: https://www.consumerreports.org/health/no-antibiotic-claims-on-beef-may-not-be-reliable-a3433700667/
Claim: Free range suggests chickens on an open field roaming, but only requires outdoor access, often through small doors, leading to limited outdoor spaces, sometimes just concrete or dirt plots (crocker holes).
Sources: https://certifiedhumane.org/range-requirements/ https://www.foodandwine.com/egg-buying-guide-8717579
Claim: Number five is vegetarian fed. While touted as a positive label, it overlooks the natural omnivorous diet of chickens and pigs, leading to potential nutrient deficiencies. Moreover, it implies they’re raised in confinement without access to pasture for natural foraging behaviors,
https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/384740/foster-farms-usda-humane-story?
Claim: Number seven is organic. USDA Organic certification does assure third party inspection and prohibits antibiotics, growth hormones, GMO feed, and synthetic fertilizers.
Sources: https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/Organic Livestock Requirements.pdf
Claim: Under USDA regulations, cows need only 120 days on pasture annually and may be fed in feedlots. For birds, screen porches can count as outdoor access. Additionally, organic standards lack care requirements for weaning, space, transport, and harvesting. While better, organic still has significant gaps.
Sources: https://awionline.org/sites/default/files/products/FA-AWI-Food-Label-Guide-Full.pdf
Claim: The misuse of the grass fed label drove us to establish wild pastures and ethical meat delivery service due to the fact that in 2016 the USDA stopped regulating the grass fed label making it far more prone to abuse…
Claim: Research by doctor Jason Rowntree showed many producers selling “grass fed” meat were likely feeding cattle grains evident from their high omega six to 3 ratio. Some cattle are also confined and fed grass and fed grass pellets.
Sources: https://green-acres.org/grass_fed_production_methods/ https://green-acres.org/variation-in-nutritional-quality-of-us-grassfed-beef/
Claim: Number 9 is grading (Prime, Choice, Select): Beef grades primarily reflect fat distribution and do not indicate how the animal was raised. They often suggest grain feeding.
Sources: https://www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standards/carcass-beef-grades-and-standards
Claim: Finally, “no hormones added” is relevant for beef and pork but meaningless for chicken, poultry, bison, or veal, as hormone use in chickens has been illegal for decades.
Source: https://www.awionline.org/sites/default/files/uploads/documents/FA-AWI-Food-Label-Guide-Full.pdf
Claim: Many meat claims rely on written descriptions from producers without verification. To ensure authenticity, look for third-party certifications from organizations that inspect and verify that animals are raised under specific welfare standards. Check for logos on labels or visit their websites for certified producers. The USDA also offers “process verified” and organic shields, which involve inspections.
Source: https://cefs.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/NCC-Label-Claims-Final_seb.pdf?x47549
Claim: For beef, lamb, goat, pork, and bison, AGA requires inspections every 15 months. Certified animals are grass-fed, free from GMOs, antibiotics, and hormones, with a focus on environmental stewardship. They also certify truly pastured pork. For eggs and poultry, look for pastured claims and call the company if necessary and consider AWA certification for continuous outdoor access and humane practices. Certified Humane offers another option, though its standards are less stringent, permitting antibiotics in illness. Source: https://www.consumerreports.org/food-labels/seals-and-claims/american-grassfed
Claim: look for farms that use Regenerative practices: For those interested in buying meat that restores environmental health, as about regenerative practices or look for certifications like Certified Regenerative, Regenerative Organic, The Real Organic Project, RegenScore, Land To Market, and Regenified. These programs focus on restoring environmental health, building soil, and enhancing biodiversity. Sources: https://agreenerworld.org/certifications/certified-regenerative/ https://regenorganic.org/ https://regenified.com/ https://rfsi-forum.com/regenerative-certifications-cheat-sheet/
This episode is US centric, but the lessons are good world wide. the best practice is to find a local farmer and buy the food directly from a farm who is following ethical and regenerative practices.
Wow, this finishes the rethink meat series, one of the best, well cited, referenced, productions ive seen on the topic. its absolutely comprehensive!
I’m so impressed by this series that I’m happy to use it as a reference if anyone has questions about carnivore.
Thank you for joining me while I watched through the series.