Grass-Fed: What Meat Labels Really Mean
What consumers think this claim means
When shoppers see grass-fed, many assume the animal ate grass for its entire life, lived outdoors, and was never fed grain.
That assumption is understandable—but often incomplete.
In practice, grass-fed can describe very different feeding programs, depending on how the claim is defined and verified.
What grass-fed claims legally mean
In the United States, grass-fed is a voluntary labeling claim.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) does not currently enforce a single, mandatory definition of grass-fed for meat labels. A previous USDA definition existed but was withdrawn, leaving producers to define the claim so long as it is not false or misleading.
As a result, grass-fed claims may:
be independently verified,
be supported by producer records,
or rely on marketing descriptions without clear standards.
How grass-fed claims are typically supported
Grass-fed claims generally fall into several categories:
Third-party verification
Some programs independently verify that animals were fed a forage-based diet according to written standards, often with audits and traceability requirements.
USDA program participation
Certain producers participate in structured verification programs that define feed protocols and recordkeeping, though standards may vary.
Producer records and affidavits
Many grass-fed claims rely on feed records and producer attestations that are available for review but not routinely audited.
Grass-fed vs. grass-finished
Some animals are grass-fed early in life but finished on grain. Others are grass-finished, meaning forage-fed until harvest. Labels do not always make this distinction clear.
Marketing language
Some labels use grass-fed without disclosing feed duration, finishing practices, or verification methods.
Why similar grass-fed claims are not equivalent
Two products may both say grass-fed but reflect very different feeding histories.
One may involve:
lifetime forage feeding,
independent verification,
and full traceability.
Another may involve:
partial forage feeding,
grain finishing,
or undefined feeding practices.
Without knowing how long grass feeding occurred and how the claim is verified, consumers cannot meaningfully compare products.
How FAT evaluates grass-fed claims
Farm Animal Transparency (FAT) assigns tiered, partial credit to grass-fed claims based on clarity and verification:
Tier A — Full Credit
Claims that clearly disclose:
grass-fed and grass-finished feeding,
independent third-party verification,
and documented feed protocols.
Tier B — Partial Credit
Claims supported by:
producer feed records,
USDA-reviewed definitions,
or programs without independent audits.
These claims provide useful information, but leave important questions unanswered.
Tier C — Minimal or No Credit
Claims that:
do not distinguish between grass-fed and grass-finished,
rely on undefined marketing language,
or omit verification details.
These claims may be accurate but offer limited transparency.
Learn more: the evidence behind grass-fed claims
For deeper analysis of feed definitions, verification systems, and the role of imports in grass-fed labeling, see:
FAT Research: Grass-Fed Beef and Feed Disclosure
FAT Research: Verification and Origin in Feed Claims
These research papers explain why grass-fed is one of the most misunderstood claims in meat labeling.
How this page is used across FAT
On the website: explains grass-fed scores and claim language
In product reviews: clarifies why similar claims score differently
In the FAT App: supports partial credit and feed-based scoring
Grass-fed claims matter—but only when definitions and verification are made explicit.
FAT scores reflect disclosure quality and verification. Learn how FAT scores meat labels →