Is Grass-Fed Meat Really the Better Protein Choice?

When shopping for meat, consumers are often inundated with a variety of claims touting one type of production or product over another. It is easy to be overwhelmed by competing campaigns that guarantee one product or other is better for you or the environment.

The fact is there are advantages and disadvantages to any type of production when you weigh factors like the sustainability of the production practices and nutritional value of the end product.

At Maple Leaf Farms we fully appreciate that producing safe, nutritious duck in socially responsible manner is a complex balancing act. Not only do we need to focus on taking good care of our animals and the environment, but we also strive to care for our people and our communities. Pursuing a perfect ideal in one area may create trade-offs in other important areas. That is why Maple Leaf Farms works to provide a transparent view of our farm-to-fork process.

Grass-Fed vs. Grain-Fed

One such debate is whether grass-fed is better than grain-fed. While grass-fed is considered to be better for the environment, it is important to note that these animals take longer to get to market so are much older and yield less edible meat than their grain-fed counterparts. Furthermore, grass-fed meat offers a different taste and nutritional profile that consumers must become accustomed to.

Free Range vs. Barn-Raised

Another claim that consumers will often run into in the poultry section is that free range poultry is better than barn-raised poultry. As you choose the product that is best for your family, keep in mind that many poultry products labeled free range must only have access to the outdoors for part of the day and the birds may not actually go outside. Either way these birds can more easily come in contact with wild birds and rodents that carry disease or predators. This can pose food safety and animal welfare issues that consumers may not consider.

Organic vs. All Natural

Public perception is that organic production is safer for consumers and the environment. While it’s true that meat products labeled as organic may not be produced with synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, consumers shouldn’t assume these products solve all the environmental and food safety issues associated with food production. Organic production takes much more land to produce the same amount of food. Furthermore, organic production can utilize strong natural inputs like sulfur that are also toxic for humans.

Plant-Based Meat Substitute vs. Real Meat

And more recently, there has been a lot of discussion about whether plant-based meat substitutes are better than real meat options. The nutritional value of both meat and plant-based substitutes can vary among products. Nutritionists have noted that some meat substitutes can be higher in saturated fat than expected and offer lower levels of important minerals like zinc and iron. Furthermore, many plant-based products contain fillers and added sodium or sugar, making their ingredient labels read more like highly processed foods.

Weighing the Options

Again, one option is rarely better than another in every category. Consumers need to educate themselves on the issues that matter most to them and make the best decision based on how their values align with the facts.

Our Approach

Through Maple Leaf Farms Trident Stewardship and sustainability programs, our company lays the framework for how we responsibly produce our duck products. And with our farm-to-fork overview, we work to educate our customers on these programs by providing a transparent view of our everyday activities.

What’s more we listen to our customers and make improvements where we can. That’s why we offer more all-natural duck products than ever before. For our marinated products, we moved to tumble marination with a natural water and sea salt formula to meet customer demand for natural ingredients and less sodium.

For more information about our fourth-generation family business and our commitment to producing safe, high-quality food, follow us on your favorite social media platform.