What's Really in Your Ground Beef

Demand for beef is on the rise, especially ground beef. In the US over half of the beef consumed is in the form of ground beef…tacos, burgers, spaghetti, casseroles - those types of meals. Why? Because it’s versatile, easy to find in almost any grocery store, and it’s sold at a price point that is affordable. What’s not to love about ground beef? It shows up in some shape or form at our meals at least three times a week, usually more.

If you've ever picked up a package or two of ground beef at the grocery store, though, you may have wondered where it came from. And you're not alone. But on the other hand, a lot of shoppers don’t think twice about that; they just look at the price and are wondering what else they need to grab before they check out and head home.

But the story behind that simple package of meat is a lot murkier than the bright red color might suggest.

So…where does the meat come from?

Store-bought ground beef often comes from a mix of beef trimmings sourced from multiple cows, and not always from the U.S. In fact, it's legal for imported beef to be labeled “Product of USA” if it's just processed here. That means your burger might include meat from several countries like Brazil, Australia, or Uruguay, shipped in frozen blocks to massive packing plants in the Midwest.

Most grocery store beef is processed and packaged in large industrial facilities where thousands of animals are handled each day. These high-volume operations grind beef in bulk - sometimes from dozens of animals at once, then vacuum seal and ship it across the country to retail chains.

You’re probably thinking, ok well, that’s not ideal, but beef is beef, right? Who cares whether it’s raised here or across the ocean. Not so fast, my friend…

The USDA doesn’t require processors to disclose what cuts of meat are used in their grinds. Most store-brand beef is made with lower-quality trimmings. Lean-to-fat ratios are usually listed (like 80/20 or 90/10), but that doesn’t mean it’s consistent or nutritionally ideal. A lot of that “fat” might be from older or tougher cuts, and nutrient levels (like Omega-3s or vitamins) are generally lower in this type of beef compared to locally raised whole ground beef.

Not liking the sound of this? Well, lucky for you there is a really simple solution - buy your ground beef locally from a small farm. And it really is as easy as that. No matter where you live… small town or big city, I bet you could find a local farm that offers direct-to-consumer beef within an hour of where you live. You could drive out to the farm and see where your beef was raised if that’s important to you (which it should be) or many farms ship meat nowadays.

Still not convinced?

Here are four big reasons why you should be buying your ground beef from a small farm rather than at a big chain grocery store:

1. Transparency.

You know exactly where your meat comes from. One animal, one farm. No foreign imports, no mystery meat. You can also ask questions and get answers from the person who has been raising, feeding, and caring for that animal. It really doesn’t get any better than that.

2. Nutrition.

Local beef from pasture-raised animals has higher levels of heart-healthy fats, more vitamin E, and natural nutrients. It also doesn't have any fillers or additives. Does it have to be 100% grass-fed to be healthy? Nope. But all cattle should have access to fresh green grass or at the minimum, free-choice hay.

3. Taste

Food is expensive right now. Period. Sure there is a difference between name brand and store brand products. But we can all agree... feeding your family costs more now than it used to. I for one am not willing to sacrifice the taste or quality of a meal to save a couple bucks. Farm-raised ground beef tastes better because it IS better. It tastes better because it was lived a higher quality of life, processed with more attention to detail at a small butcher shop, and is just better product.

4. Support your local economy.

I could get on a soap box here, but I will (sort-of) restrain myself. When you buy from a small farm, your dollars stay in your community. You’re not just feeding your family, you’re supporting another family, too. It’s easy to post on social media that everyone should “shop small, shop local,” it's entirely another thing to actually do it. Take the time to look for local products.

We love our whole ground beef and get great feedback from our customers.

So, make that extra stop to pick up your meat at a farm instead of throwing it in your grocery cart because it’s easier. Swing through the farmers market on your way to get fresh fruit and vegetables instead of getting imported stuff from the store.

Small farms are shutting down at an alarming rate. And it’s scary to think what we will all be eating on a daily basis if that trend continues.

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