What is grain-fed (conventional) beef?
Most of the beef you see in the meat case is conventional. Conventional beef typically comes from cattle that are raised in pastures for the majority of their lives, typically 12 to 18 months, and then are fed a grain-based diet for approximately three to six months. o When forage is not available because of extreme weather conditions, like in winter or during a drought, cattle can thrive on a limited amount of grain. o Through the feeding process, cattle are able to turn feed-grade corn, which has no human food value, into a food abundant in essential nutrients. Most fresh beef you find in the meat case is natural. According to USDA, natural beef has been minimally processed and contains no additives (which means no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives). This definition applies to all meat that does not have an ingredient label (a label is added if the product includes a marinade or solution). So, if theres no ingredient label, it is natural. o Some manufacturers use the term n
