I'm curious to know if there is a US-standardized definition of
"organic beef." I would think that it would mean, at minimum, that it
is free from hormones/antibiotics. Are the cows grass fed? Are they
"free range" (i.e. so-called Happy California Cows -- anyone who's
driven down I-5 between Sac and Bakersfield knows all about the
unhappy California cows)? Or is there no legal definition?

I've been googling, and I've found a number of purveyors, but little
"hard" info.

Anyone?

TammyM, may turn to tofu! (as all Californians do, of course ;-) )

TammyM wrote:
> I'm curious to know if there is a US-standardized definition of
> "organic beef." I would think that it would mean, at minimum, that it
> is free from hormones/antibiotics. Are the cows grass fed? Are they
> "free range" (i.e. so-called Happy California Cows -- anyone who's
> driven down I-5 between Sac and Bakersfield knows all about the
> unhappy California cows)? Or is there no legal definition?
>
> I've been googling, and I've found a number of purveyors, but little
> "hard" info.
>
> Anyone?
>
> TammyM, may turn to tofu! (as all Californians do, of course ;-) )

It is now, as of april 2002, governed by a federal standard. Searching
around the usda.gov web site should turn up all the gory details.

--
Del Cecchi
"This post is my own and doesn’t necessarily represent IBM’s positions,
strategies or opinions.”

Del Cecchi" > wrote in message
...
> TammyM wrote:
>> I'm curious to know if there is a US-standardized definition of
>> "organic beef." I would think that it would mean, at minimum, that it
>> is free from hormones/antibiotics. Are the cows grass fed? Are they
>> "free range" (i.e. so-called Happy California Cows -- anyone who's
>> driven down I-5 between Sac and Bakersfield knows all about the
>> unhappy California cows)? Or is there no legal definition?
>>
>> I've been googling, and I've found a number of purveyors, but little
>> "hard" info.
>>
>> Anyone?
>>
>> TammyM, may turn to tofu! (as all Californians do, of course ;-) )
>
> It is now, as of april 2002, governed by a federal standard. Searching
> around the usda.gov web site should turn up all the gory details.
>
> --

As I understand it, it means that the animals can not have been given any
antibiotics, hormones, etc., and that they were fed only organic feed. So,
not necessarily free range or grass fed although some organic steers may be.


--
Peter Aitken
Visit my recipe and kitchen myths page at www.pgacon.com/cooking.htm

Peter Aitken wrote:

> As I understand it, it means that the animals can not have been given
> any antibiotics, hormones, etc., and that they were fed only organic
> feed. So, not necessarily free range or grass fed although some
> organic steers may be.


What I wonder is given the choice, which meats are safer and healther
for us, organic or kosher? Can I use safer AND healthier in the same
sentence in this regard?

I followed the recent kosher thread with great interest which is why I
ask.

Andy

writes:
>Del Cecchi" > wrote in message
...
>> TammyM wrote:
>>> I'm curious to know if there is a US-standardized definition of
>>> "organic beef." I would think that it would mean, at minimum, that it
>>> is free from hormones/antibiotics. Are the cows grass fed? Are they
>>> "free range" (i.e. so-called Happy California Cows -- anyone who's
>>> driven down I-5 between Sac and Bakersfield knows all about the
>>> unhappy California cows)? Or is there no legal definition?
>>>
>>> I've been googling, and I've found a number of purveyors, but little
>>> "hard" info.
>>>
>>> Anyone?
>>>
>>> TammyM, may turn to tofu! (as all Californians do, of course ;-) )
>>
>> It is now, as of april 2002, governed by a federal standard. Searching
>> around the usda.gov web site should turn up all the gory details.
>>
>> --
>
>As I understand it, it means that the animals can not have been given any
>antibiotics, hormones, etc., and that they were fed only organic feed. So,
>not necessarily free range or grass fed although some organic steers may be.

I believe the animals have to have been born on the organic farm as well

it's pretty strict

"Andy" <Q> wrote in message
.. .
> Peter Aitken wrote:
>
> > As I understand it, it means that the animals can not have been
given
> > any antibiotics, hormones, etc., and that they were fed only organic
> > feed. So, not necessarily free range or grass fed although some
> > organic steers may be.
>
>
> What I wonder is given the choice, which meats are safer and healther
> for us, organic or kosher? Can I use safer AND healthier in the same
> sentence in this regard?
>
> I followed the recent kosher thread with great interest which is why I
> ask.
>
> Andy

Apples and oranges, unfortunately. Kosher refers mainly to the way
that the meat is killed and preserved; organic refers to the way the
meat is fed and raised. You can Kosher organic products, of course,
but this is really hard to find. Kosher standards typically do not
restrict
many additives (msg comes to mind) that enter the product chain after
it is properly killed and preserved; organic of course restricts these
but
does not require "clean" butchering and preserving although the abattoir
must also be organic so it usually is very clean just because of the
expense in operating an organic-only slaughter house. Do note that
neither term necessarily connotes "quality."

A good website for the Kosher part of it is www.kashrut.com among
others.

pavane

On Sat, 20 Aug 2005 02:01:08 GMT, "pavane"
> wrote:
<snip>
> Kosher standards typically do not restrict
>many additives (msg comes to mind) that enter the product chain after
>it is properly killed and preserved; organic of course restricts these
>but
>does not require "clean" butchering and preserving although the abattoir
>must also be organic so it usually is very clean just because of the
>expense in operating an organic-only slaughter house. Do note that
>neither term necessarily connotes "quality."

You've answered the question I wsa going to ask next. I've been
reading "Fast Food Nation", and the description of slaughterhouses got
me to wondering if organic beef is slaughtered in a more hygenic
fashion. Sounds like that is exactly the case.
<snip>

TammyM