Beef Quote by Barbara Kingsolver
““[from an entry by her daughter Camille] On the other hand, if cattle remain on pasture right to the end, that kind of beef is called "grass finished." The difference between this and CAFO beef are not just relevant to how kindly you feel about animals: meat and eggs of pastured animals also have a measurably different nutrient composition. A lot of recent research has been published on this subject, which is slowly reaching the public. USDA studies found much lower levels of saturated fats and higher vitamin E, beta-carotene, and omega-3 levels in meat from cattle fattened on pasture grasses (their natural diet), compared with CAFO animals ... Free-range beef also has less danger of bacterial contamination because feeding on grass maintains normal levels of acidity in the animal's stomach. At the risk of making you not want to sit at my table, I should tell you that the high-acid stomachs of grain-fed cattle commonly harbor acid-resistant strains of E. coli that are very dangerous to humans ... Free-range grazing is not just kinder to the animals and the surrounding environment; it produces an entirely different product.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Food Lab by Barbara Kingsolver, 2015
Pastured livestock yields meat with healthier nutrients and lower contamination risk, offering environmental and ethical benefits over industrial farming.
In simple terms: Grass-fed meat is healthier and kinder to the planet.
Choose pasture-raised animal when possible.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- grocery shopping
- restaurant menu choices
- diet planning
- policy advocacy
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does your diet reflect your values?
- What steps can you take to support sustainable farming?
Higher cost and limited availability can be barriers.