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Frequently Asked Questions: Grassfed Label
Why did Food Alliance create a grassfed certification program?
Rising public interest in potential health benefits associated with grassfed meats has created new market opportunities for farmers and ranchers. However, without clear standards and criteria, companies were able to use the term “grassfed” to describe some very different production systems. This made it difficult for consumers to evaluate and trust grassfed claims.
In response, the USDA recently created a very narrow legal definition of “grassfed,” which focuses primarily on what animals eat.
Food Alliance believes that when consumers choose grassfed meat, they want products that come from animals raised on pasture on a forage-based diet. They also want assurance that those animals have never been treated with growth hormones or antibiotics, that they have been treated humanely, and that the environment has been protected. Grassfed livestock production, done well, holds the promise of new markets for producers, positive outcomes for the environment, and healthy meats for consumers. From this perspective, creating a grassfed certification option is a natural fit with Food Alliance’s mission of promoting sustainable agriculture.
If the USDA set the definition for grassfed ruminants already, why is a separate certification necessary?
The USDA definition does a good job of defining what grassfed animals can and cannot be fed. But it does not deal with other issues consumers care about—like the use of hormones and antibiotics, confinement of animals, and environmental stewardship.
With Food Alliance’s grassfed certification program, farmers and ranchers must meet standards for safe and fair working conditions, humane animal care, soil and water conservation, and protection of wildlife habitat. In addition, animals may not be fed grain or grain by-products, or receive hormone or antibiotic treatments of any kind. By strictly limiting the amount of time animals can spend in confinement, Food Alliance also ensures that certified grassfed animals spend the great majority of their lives on pasture or range.
What kinds of animal products can be Food Alliance Certified Grassfed?
Food Alliance can certify meat or dairy products from any ruminant animal as grassfed—including cattle, sheep and goats.
Is there a separate certification seal for Food Alliance Certified Grassfed?
Yes, it looks like this:
If I’m a grassfed producer, will the Food Alliance grassfed certification help me when it comes time to get my package label approved by FSIS?
FSIS recognizes Food Alliance Grassfed certification as meeting or exceeding the USDA requirements for grassfed production. You can submit a copy of your certification letter and a copy of the Food Alliance Grassfed Audit Module, along with the other documentation required by FSIS, and FSIS will approve your label request.
How does the certification process work?
You can learn more about Food Alliance’s certification standards and the farm/ranch certification process here.
Can grassfed meat producers get the Food Alliance certification for grassfed without the other certification components Food Alliance is known for?
No. All Food Alliance certified producers must meet requirements for social and environmental responsibility, including safe and fair working conditions, humane treatment of livestock, conservation of soil and water resources, and protection of wildlife habitat.
Why would I choose Food Alliance grassfed certification over others?
Food Alliance has over a decade of experience developing and administering third party certification to farmers, ranchers and food businesses of all kinds. We currently certify over 300 farms and ranches managing over 5.5 million acres in 21 states, Canada and Mexico.
Food Alliance also has the only grassfed certification program that covers feed, use of hormone and antibiotic treatments, humane animal care, labor conditions, and environmental concerns. We’re confident the market will reward producers willing to meet this higher, more comprehensive standard, with claims verified by an independent third-party.
Hearst Ranch Beef is one of the first companies certified under Food Alliance’s grassfed standards. Division manager Brian Kenny said this about his experience:
“What I like about Food Alliance certification is the very pragmatic approach to continually improving your operation. You get to look in the mirror and honestly assess what you’re doing. The questions the inspector was asking were questions we should have been asking ourselves anyway. We did find some points for improvement during the inspection, and it turned out they were things that actually helped us with efficiency, too. The inspection also helped us see and appreciate all the good things we were doing, which has given us more to talk about with our customers. There’s clearly traction in the marketplace for grassfed and sustainable, and I think third-party certification has helped us gain momentum.”
How were Food Alliance’s grassfed certification standards, criteria and inspection tools developed?
The standards were derived from a set of guidelines developed and provided by the American Grassfed Association. Food Alliance contracted with Dr. Woody Lane of Lane Livestock Services to develop grassfed evaluation criteria and indicators. Dr. Lane has more than 25 years of experience with ruminants and with forage-based production systems across the United States. Staff from USDA/AMS and FSIS provided valuable commentary and input, and grassfed producers and Food Alliance inspectors participated in field testing of the grassfed audit module.
Where can I read the grassfed criteria?
