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 ;-) )
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" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
TammyM said:
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
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.
Del Cecchi" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
TammyM said:
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
"Andy" <Q> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Peter Aitken said:
As I understand it, it means that the animals can not have been
given
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
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.
On Sat, 20 Aug 2005 02:01:08 GMT, "pavane" <[email hidden]> wrote: <snip>
Quoted message said:
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>
wondering if organic beef is slaughtered in a more hygenic fashion. Sounds like that is exactly the case.
The U.S. organic standard stipulates that the equipment used to process organic products must not be the same equipment used to process "conventional" products. Note that that does not necessarily mean the equipment is any _cleaner_. This, interestingly, is a distinction maintained for kosher products as well, which is why a deli selling kosher products will have a separate slicer for those items.
