Terminology: "Natural"

SUMMARY OF "NATURAL" STEAK?

In summary, "natural" steak is a steak which:

• Contains no artificial ingredients;
• Contains no added color;
• Is minimally processed so as not to fundamentally alter the product; and
• Has a label which explains the meaning of the word "natural".

DETAILS OF "NATURAL" STEAK

In order for a steak to be labelled "organic", the steak must comply with the requirements of the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).  The FSIS maintains a glossary of meat and poultry labeling terms and is the agency responsible for ensuring the truthfulness and accuracy in labeling of steak (as well as all meat and poultry products).

FSIS provides the following definition of the word "natural""

"A product containing no artificial ingredient or added color and is only minimally processed.  Minimal processing means that the product was processed in a manner that does not fundamentally alter the product.  The label must include a statement explaining the meaning of the term natural (such as "no artificial ingredients; minimally processed")."

UN-NATURAL STEAK

The word "natural" has a fundamental flaw, when applied to "natural", because it implies that any steak which does not comply with the "natural" definition must therefore be "un-natural".

In fact, many steaks that are sold do not qualify for the natural label. These include, for example, any steak which:

• Has been tenderized with needles (e.g. a Jaccard) or other mechanical means;
• Has been tenderized with any un-natural, chemical means (see note, below); or
• Has been injected with saline or any other solution.

Note that tenderizing a steak with natural means (such as dry-aging) does not disqualify a steak from the being labelled as natural.

NATURAL vs. ORGANIC

Natural and Organic have very different meanings. Click here for our blog on "Organic Steak". In addition, the Food and Marketing Institute has an excellent summary of the differences between the terms.

In summary, the two terms have very different meanings, with some steak qualifying for one but not the other, some qualifying for both, and a small proportion qualifying for neither.

CONCLUSION
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Terminology: "Organic"

This is an update of a blog first posted on January 18, 2011,
which is online at http://bit.ly/gSxULZ

SUMMARY OF "ORGANIC" STEAK?

In summary, an "organic" steak means a steak from cattle that has been certified, by an independent agency, as meeting three requirements:

• The cattle were fed only 100% organic feed;
• The cattle were not treated with any routine antibiotics; and
• The cattle were not treated with any hormones.

DETAILS OF "ORGANIC" STEAK

In order for a steak to be labelled "organic", the steak must comply with a long list of specific requirements.

With regard to the diet of the cattle from which the steak is produced, none of the grasses or grains may be treated with any non-organic pesticide, any non-organic insecticide, any non-organic herbicide, and most non-organic fertilizers.

In addition, none of the cattle's diet may have been subject to chemical ripening, irradiation, genetically modified ingredients or processes, artificial sweeteners, artificial food colors and artificial flavoring.

With regard to the cattle themselves, they may not be treated with routine antibiotics. However, antibiotics may be used in order to treat a specific medical condition.

The cattle may not be given any artificial growth hormones.  However, cattle may be given artificial growth enhancements that are not hormones.

Because of the strict requirements, less than 1% of the steaks sold domestically qualify for the organic label.  Because the supply is so limited, and because there is considerable demand for organic steak, the price of an organic steak is much higher than the price of a comparable conventional steak.

NON-ORGANIC CATTLE

The common term used for non-organic cattle or steak is "conventional" cattle or steak.  In this sense, conventional refers to the method by which the great majority of domestic beef cattle are raised, from which the vast majority of steak is produced.

A more precise term for non-organic cattle or steak is "non-organic cattle or steak".

LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

The word "organic" is defined by federal law.  The word is codified in the "Organic Food Production Act of 1990, 7 USC § 6501-22".  The Regulations are set forth in "7 CFR Part 205".  The program is regulated by the USDA's "National Organic Program".

There are approximately "90 certification agencies" which have been accredited (approved) by the USDA.

COMPARING ORGANIC WITH NON-ORGANIC STEAK

There is no difference in the palatability (i.e. the taste, texture or juiciness) between organic and non-organic steak.

Some claim that there are health and environmental benefits of organic steak compared with non-organic steak.  Some claim that there are no measurable differences, and some claim that there are health and environmental risks associated with organic steak.

As noted above, the price of a organic steak is higher than a comparable non-organic steak.

CONCLUSION
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Terminology: "Organic"

DEFINITION

"Certified Organic" means that a qualified organization certifies that no man-made pesticides, herbicides, genetically modified organisms or fertilizers were used in producing the beef or the feed for the beef. Some producers may follow organic or near-organic practices but not be formally certified.

PROPOSED USDA GUIDELINES

As reported by MeatingPlace, the USDA on January 13, 2011, proposed new guidelines for use of the terms "100% organic" and "made with organic ingredients". The MeatingPlace blog explains some of the details of the proposed guidelines. The formal notice is available here. Comments may be submitted online (click here) through March 14, 2011.

CONCLUSION

SteakPerfection welcomes your comments.  Please share them below.  SteakPerfection is a complex process that involves every detail, from pasture to plate.

Click here for our SteakPerfection Twitter.
Click here for our Steak Perfection Facebook.
Click here for our Steak Perfection Blog.
Click here for our Steak Perfection LinkedIn.
Click here for our Steak Perfection website.

A short link to this blog is http://bit.ly/gSxULZ