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 of Agriculture (USDA) announced it had withdrawn its grassfed standard used in livestock and meat marketing due to lack of a clear congressional mandate to maintain it.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.
New Study on Grass-Fed Beef
Read about a recent research study confirming that consumers like the taste of 100% grass-fed, pasture-raised beef.
Study Shows Consumers Find Grass-Fed Beef Acceptable
By Jeff Muhollem
PSU Ag Science News
July 28, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK – High feed-grain prices and the growing interest in “natural” foods have spurred both consumers and farmers to consider grass-fed beef, and a recent study done by Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences researchers may reinforce this trend.