What is Natural Meat?

Consumers Union SWRO conducted a phone survey of 28 major chain grocery stores and specialty food stores throughout Texas to determine whether organic and/or sustainably-produced meat (1) is readily available in Texas supermarkets. We found that while nationwide consumer interest in sustainably-produced meat is growing, very few stores in Texas (other than "natural foods" specialty stores) carry it, and no stores currently sell "certified organic (by)" meat. (2)

Consumers Union phoned major supermarket chain stores (supermarkets) and local or chain "natural foods" specialty stores (specialty stores) in ten Texas cities to ask whether they carried organic or "natural" meats. Sustainably-produced pork was not available in any of the major supermarket stores that we surveyed. Only four major supermarkets carried any other "natural," antibiotic- and hormone-free meat, and choices were limited to either Laura's Lean Beef or Buddy's Natural Chicken. In addition, in three of these stores we were mistakenly told that they carried "organic" beef when in fact the clerks were referring to various brands of "natural" (antibiotic/hormone-free)-but not organic-beef.

We found that most supermarket employees were misinformed about organic and natural meat products. Several meat department clerks incorrectly informed us that they sold "natural" meats in their stores, namely Pilgrim's Pride and Sanderson Farms chicken. When asked if these products were truly natural and produced without antibiotics or hormones, we were told that they were. In fact, Pilgrim's Pride and Sanderson Farms operate large, vertically integrated, conventionally managed CAFOs in Texas and do not make any antibiotic or hormone claims for their products. Two other clerks informed us that they sold a Morningstar Farms frozen organic meat product when in fact they were referring to Morningstar's veggie burgers which are neither organic nor contain any meat at all. Neighborhood supermarkets clearly are not providing many options or adequate facts on existing sustainably-produced meat for consumers to make informed decisions.

On the other hand, specialty stores such as Whole Foods or local co-operative markets do tend to carry one or more types of "natural" meat such as Laura's Lean Beef, Peterson's Pork, or Buddy's Chicken, all of which make claims of limited or no antibiotic and hormone use during production. However, the employees at these stores are just as likely to be misinformed about the various products and production methods as their chain supermarket counterparts. For example, two stores informed us incorrectly that they sold organic meats when in fact they do not. In one case, a Fort Worth store specializing in organic produce and "natural meats" told us they sold organic beef. When we asked if the cattle had been fed only organic grain (as is generally required for "organic" status), they assured us that the meat-Spring Creek Beef from northeast Texas-was organic. A trip to the company's webpage, however, shows that while the cattle are produced without antibiotics and hormones (i.e. "natural"), they are not fed organic feed and therefore do not produce organic meat. In the other case, a specialty store clerk in San Antonio assured us that they carried a brand of organic beef. However, the product sold, B3R Beef, is not organically produced and the company makes no claim to do so. Finally, a specialty store in Corpus Christi initially told us that they sold organic meat, but, upon further questioning, conceded that they sold only "natural" meat products. In addition, the clerk incorrectly listed Pilgrim's Pride chicken among the available antibiotic- and hormone-free products sold at the store.

So while consumers with access to specialty stores in some cities may be able to purchase sustainably produced meats, there is no guarantee that they will receive the correct information about the products they are buying. Consumers need clearer meat labeling and more accurate information from grocery providers before they can benefit fully from the meat choices available.