“Antibiotic-Free”: Industrial Farming with a Nice-Sounding Label
Sales of “antibiotic-free” labeled chicken at U.S. retailers rose 34% by value in 2013-14, driven by public concerns about antibiotic use in food animal production. But, asks Peter Mundy, is the “antibiotic-free” label really all it seems?
Third-Party Grassfed Certification More Important Than Ever
The recent withdrawal of the USDA Grassfed standard means third-party certifications like Certified Grassfed by AWA are more important than ever for protecting the interests of consumers and “true” grassfed farmers alike...
Sustainability is Complex: There is No Single Diet Solution
The science is in: There's no single diet solution to feeding the world sustainably, and grazing ruminant livestock—and the high-quality food they produce—will play a key role in our quest for future global food security.
Third-Party Grassfed Certification More Important Than Ever
On January 12, the Agriculture Marketing Service (AMS) of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) announced it had withdrawn its grassfed standard used in livestock and meat marketing due to lack of a clear congressional mandate to maintain it. While these changes at the USDA are largely procedural, this development could result in a proliferation of “grassfed” claims that do not meet consumer expectations. In light of the USDA’s announcement, transparent third-party certifications that clearly define 100 percent grassfed production (like Certified Grassfed by AWA) become more important than ever for protecting the interests of “true” grassfed farmers and conscientious consumers alike.
Big Ag’s Gifts for 2015
It's a tradition of ours to recap the many "gifts" Big Ag bestowed upon us over the last year. Most are gifts we didn't really want, need or (in some cases) didn't even know about. Here's our top 5 for 2015--and what you can do about it!
