A Response to Nolan Ryan Beef: Part Two
If you read my post last week about USDA meat labeling, you may or may not have noticed a surprising comment left by the CEO of Nolan Ryan Beef. There were too many points to cover in a single blog comment reply, so I offered some thoughts yesterday in Part One. Here’s part two:
We don’t own a single feedyard and none of our cattle are in “mega” feedyards but instead we are feeding cattle in relatively small feed yards in South Texas.
~ Charlie Bradbury, CEO of Nolan Ryan Beef
Response: I’m a little confused with the terminology here. My original post states that “Nolan Ryan owns no fewer than four mega-large ‘feedlots’ in Texas.” Your comment used the term “feedyards” instead of “feedlots.” Nolan Ryan’s beef website states that you “only work with licensed feedlots.” So, are you saying that you feed your cattle in small feedlots in Texas but you don’t own the feedlots? How do you define “relatively small?”
The claim that you own feedlots was taken from information that is a few years old. Based on your statement I’m guessing that things have changed since then. Once I understand better what you are saying I will change the original post so that it is accurate.
For Example, USDA defines “All Natural” as any beef that is “minimally processed with no artificial ingredients added” There is nothing in that definition about how the cattle are raised. Beef that has been “enhanced” meaning it is pumped with a sodium phosphate solution such as that sold at Wal-Mart, does not meet this definition, Nolan Ryan Beef does meet this definition and hence we can put it on our label, we are not trying to decieve anyone, just following the regulations.
~ Charlie Bradbury, CEO of Nolan Ryan Beef
Response: It is to the advantage of feedlot operations that the government regulates beef labeling*. Representatives from CAFO’s, Big Beef, or whatever-you-want-to-call-them spend millions of dollars annually lobbing Congress to write regulations that favor their interests.
Concern #1: Antibiotics and Growth Hormones
While still meeting the requirements of “All-Natural” labeling, it is my understanding that a calf can be implanted with a growth hormone several times from birth to weaning, several times after weaning and until they are shipped to the feedlot. They can also be given antibiotics via medicated feeds, protein licks, tubs, etc. Also, feedlots routinely implant animals with additional growth hormones upon arrival at their operation.
I have also been told that implanting an animal with growth hormones less than 100 days before slaughter is wasted money. Apparently there is not enough time for the drugs to bulk up the animal enough to justify the expense so it simply isn’t done. What frustrates me is how “All-Natural” labels often say “No antibiotics or hormones” when it really should say “No antibiotics or hormones in the last 100 days.” I am not claiming that Nolan Ryan Beef is intentionally trying to deceive anyone, but I do think somewhere along the lines someone was trying to pull the wool over consumers eyes. The “All-Natural” label is confusing for the consumer. That was the point of my original post.
Concern #2: Genetically Modified Corn
An extremely high percentage (maybe 90+%) of all the corn grown in American is Genetically Modified (GMO) grain. Feedlot cows eat a lot of grain. According to Expert Jeffrey M. Smith, author of “Seeds of Deception”, studies link GMO’s with adverse reactions such as: allergies, infertility, infant mortality, immune system dysfunction, stunted growth, accelerated aging, and death.
We are different species, but we are not that different. If GMO products can cause harm to humans, then it logically follows that they will compromise the health of cattle as well. Especially since corn is not even a part of a cows natural diet.
It disturbs me that beef can be labeled natural that has been fed GMO’s. It just doesn’t make sense. GMO is the antithesis of natural. And if “you are what you eat” holds true, then what the heck?
Concern #3: Cloning
I don’t know the answer to this, so I’m hoping someone can tell me: Can a cloned animal qualify as “All-Natural?” I know that cloned beef is not required to be labeled as such, so I am curious.
Conclusion
The free market system in the U.S. will reward those who provide a superior product at a competitive price. I believe grass-fed beef is a superior product relative to its health benefits, its environmental benefits and its flavor profile. Competitive pricing is a different story. Grass-fed beef is not cheaper than feedlot beef. But, that is not a bad thing. The U.S. average household spends LESS of its budget on food than any other industrialized country in the world. The U.S. average household spends MORE of its budget on healthcare than any other industrialized country in the world. Does anyone see the correlation here? I would venture that families who eat healthy, locally and as organically as possible spend less on healthcare than those who do not. Where do you want to spend your money, on good food, or on visits to your doctor, hospital, and pharmacist?
* This is my opinion, not a statement of absolute truth!
1 Comment »Response to Nolan Ryan Beef: Part 1
If you read my post last week about USDA meat labeling, you may or may not have noticed a surprising comment left by the CEO of Nolan Ryan Beef. Now, I’m no meat industry expert. I’m just an wife and mom who cares about the quality of food on my family’s plates. And though I’m no expert, I appreciate the opportunity to dialogue with CEO Charlie Bradbury so that I can learn more about the industry. There were too many points to cover in a single blog comment reply, so I’ll offer my response into two posts. Here’s part one:
(more…)
5 Comments »Stuck
This blog is supposed to be about our family’s adventure in urban farming. It’s meant to entertain by letting us make fools of ourselves as we milk a goat for the first time and try to figure out which of our baby chicks are girls and which are boys. It’s supposed to make you think “aw . . . how sweet!” when I post a photo of my two year-old with a basket full of eggs she collected. (more…)
2 Comments »Meal Plan Monday
So many things are changing right now. Although I love homemade soups, a simmering stockpot full of chicken bones and veggies does not exactly spell “Home Sweet Home” to most people. So it’s out . . . for now. Plus, although Daniel and I REALLY enjoy our weekly exploration venture to a new restaurant, it is requiring some creativity with our budget to keep it up. (Some of these places are pricey, some aren’t. We want to try them ALL.)
6 Comments »Gigipotamus: It Takes a Village
In our culture, it seems you just don’t live with your relatives unless there’s no other option, and you have to look long and hard to find another option before you get a pass. So why has our family embraced such an unfashionable lifestyle? What do I get out of selling my house and giving up my independence to live with my kids? Good question! A BIG part of the answer has to do with Katie, but I’ll save that for another post.
(more…)
11 Comments »Sell My House and I’ll Make You Dinner
Today is the first day we have our house up for sale. For now it’s just a For Sale By Owner sign in the yard and an “Open House” on Saturdays and Sundays. It’s a great house, but our vision requires more land and, ahem, more suitable quarters for our live-in Gigi.
We’re still waiting on a comparative market analysis to help us settle on a price, but we do know that we’ll be asking less than the previous owners did six years ago. If you know anyone that is interested to moving to the fabulous ( I mean that!) city of North Richland Hills, send them our way!!!
4 Comments »
Potager Cafe: Grass-fed, Local and Organic Ingredients in DFW!
A Traditional Kitchen Garden
“Potager” (pronounced Poh-tah-zhay) is French for a traditional kitchen garden. No name could be more fitting for this one-of-a-kind cafe, and I’m not saying that lightly. Organic produce arrives daily . . . not quite from their backyard, but mostly from Potager Cafe’s hometown of Arlington, Texas. Here’s what they have to say about one of their local sources: (more…)
9 Comments »Mystery Meat: USDA Labels May Not Mean What You Think
In the days before I discovered local farms I used to wander the meat and dairy section at Whole Foods wishing for a food-label decoder ring.
19 Comments »Me: What is the difference between a free-range egg and a cage-free egg? Should I go for the all-natural or the organic upgrade? Omega-3 loaded or regular?
Decoder ring: No fear, Mommypotamus! I will help you! (more…)
Dear DFW Suburbs: THIS is How Farmers Markets are Done
Have you heard???
Keller is opening a Farmers Market in April!!!
This market (unlike many suburban markets) will be featuring lots of local produce in addition to artisanal products and unique prepared foods made in the Lone Star State. One of my favorite local producers, Homestead Farms, will be selling their delicious cracked-pepper goat cheese and produce there. (more…)
5 Comments »What is a Mommypotamus?
You see before you the starting point of Mommypotamus.com – a children’s book I love to read to our daughter. In the book, a socially hesitant potamus (for we all know by now how many varied forms of potami there truly are) sees everybody playing and doing cool stuff together, but she is always hanging back. I won’t spoil the ending for you. But it’s a real tearjerker. (more…)
11 Comments »