Organic vs. inorganic; pasture-raised vs. factory farmed

Written by Phillip Semaan on 1/13/24

Do you think it matters if the animal you’re eating lived a happy life or not? What are all these labels used on our foods and what should we look for?

Going to the grocery store nowadays has become more confusing than ever with all these labels; whether it’s USDA or organic, what does all that mean? What should we actually be looking for when buying meat and produce? 

When purchasing produce (fruits and vegetables), always look for the organic label. But even then, it sometimes isn’t enough. The healthiest produce is grown locally by farmers near you. When produce is shipped for extended periods of time, it is packaged in plastic, suffocated, and has passed through many hands to reach yours. Between the picking, packaging, shipping, unloading, and stacking in your grocery store fridge, this process would take days, even weeks! Which renders all these fruits and vegetables lower in vitamins and minerals. 

Buying from your local organic farm would ensure that you are consuming the best produce you can lay your hands on. Locally grown fruits and vegetables have a higher nutritional content, especially since they have been picked at peak ripeness from the vine, tree, or bush. No long shipping. No plastic packaging. No pesticides. Just straight organic produce from your local farm! 

Now for the more important issue, how to pick your meats.

Did you know that cows in Switzerland get regular massages, bathe in the sun all day, and only eat grass? Whereas factory raised animals that are intended for meat consumption are frequently subjected to genetic manipulation to achieve unnaturally rapid growth, rendering them more profitable at the cost of YOUR health! 

As an example: chickens slaughtered in the US are now selectively bred to attain an astonishing weight of 9 lb, compared to their average weight of only 2 lb in the 1950s. This rapid and chemically enhanced growth often results in debilitating deformities in these animals. 

Research conducted by the Center for Food Safety exposes the widespread use of over 450 animal drugs, drug combinations, and additives in factory farms, all aimed at promoting growth and sustaining animals in harsh conditions. 

99% of chicken and 78% of beef consumed in the US today originate from densely populated factory farms, where diseases and infections thrive. 

If that wasn’t worrisome enough, the Center for Food Safety has discovered that some drugs used on the animals we eat pose a significant threat to animals, humans, and the environment; but are approved by the FDA and are readily available in the market. 

12 of these drugs are banned from being used on animals in other countries, but are legally used daily on animals in the US. One of which is Ractopamine, a drug with muscle mass gaining properties, with unknown side-effects to humans, but has resulted in higher sickness and death rates amongst animals more than any other drug, with other side-effects like lameness, broken limbs, and immobility. 

Another substance used on factory farmed animals are arsenic-based compounds which, you guessed it, are also approved by the FDA for growth promotion. This led to an increase in cumulative arsenic exposure among Americans, including documented cases of arsenic residues in chicken products found in the market. 

Another substance added to meat is ethoxyquin, a synthetic antioxidant utilized to extend the shelf life of meat by preventing rot. Despite being acknowledged by the FDA as poisonous, ethoxyquin continues to be added to poultry farm drinking water to enhance the color of egg yolks. The FDA, to this day, has not reevaluated or restricted the use of this drug for animals. 

An alarming statistic reveals that 80% of all antibiotics in the US are administered to farmed animals, not only to address infections and diseases but also to promote growth and feed efficiency. 

There are so many side effects we do not know of. Sticking to farm raised animals for animal products is the safest, most nutritious, environmentally friendly thing you could do. As we digest our food, the elements, vitamins, and particles that make up our food diffuse across a one-cell wall thick lining in our intestines and actually become part of us. What we are eating is a conversation with our environment, with our biology, even from the standpoint of breath, every breath that we take in contains oxygen that was once a part of plant tissues, contains microbes that become a part of our microbiome. And with every breath out we exhale carbon dioxide that becomes a part of plant tissues, so there is this constant active transformation of matter that is happening within our food system, a reciprocity, exchange, and surrender with our environment.

The statement “you are what you eat” could not be more literal and true. 

Try to apply all of this to your life. What would your health look like if you were trapped in a prison cell all day, injected with synthetic and poisonous drugs, force-fed foods you would not normally eat, and deprived of sunlight and fresh air versus living outdoors, eating healthy natural foods, and being a part of a community?

Opposite to factory raised animals, pasture-raised animals are happy healthy animals, they are animals that have lived optimal natural lives, spending most of their time in the sun, grazing naturally grown grass, soaking in all the nutrients the earth has to offer, and thus transferring all these nutrients to us when we consume them.

Whether it’s eggs, chicken, pork, or beef, pasture-raised animal products are packed with nutrients that are lacking in unethically raised factory farmed animals. 

Pasture-raised animal products have higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which is essential for heart health and have anti-inflammatory properties. They also have higher CLA levels (conjugated linoleic acid). Studies have found that CLA has potential health benefits like anti-cancer properties. Pasture-raised animals also have a higher vitamin and mineral content, such as vitamin E, beta-carotene, and B vitamins. These nutrients are associated with antioxidant and immune system support. 

Pasture-raised animals also have lower omega-6 fatty acids than animals fed primarily on grains. While omega-6 fatty acids are essential, an imbalance with omega-3 can contribute to inflammation, and pasture-raised products help address this balance. 

Not to mention that pasture-raised animals are raised without routine use of antibiotics or growth hormones, which are a huge concern to humans when consumed. 

In considering what we eat, it’s essential to understand where our food comes from. The trip from the grocery store to our plates has become a confusing journey, with labels like USDA and organic, complicating our choices. When it comes to meat and produce, the consequences of our choices greatly affect our personal health. Local, organic produce stands out for its nutritional excellence, avoiding issues like extended shipping and plastic packaging. The story takes a concerning turn when exploring the meat industry, uncovering problems like genetic manipulation, widespread drug use, and environmental threats. Amidst these challenges, pasture-raised animals offer a positive alternative - providing healthier, nutrient-rich products, that are also a compassionate choice. 

As we reflect on the profound link between our food choices and well-being, the message is clear: opting for locally sourced, organic produce and pasture-raised animals and animal products is way better for our personal health and longevity, and a mindful step towards a more sustainable and humane food system.