Latest news with #meatlabeling
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Aussies urged to ask one question as US beef re-enters market
A woman who has vowed to boycott US beef is urging Australians to always ask where their meat is from before buying it at hospitality venues. Video transcript As soon as that American beef starts coming into Australia, we've all got to get really brave at asking cafes and restaurants and fast food places where the beef's coming from, if you get anything with beef in it, 'cos that's where it's gonna end up, is where you can't easily check the label. Because, of course, it's easy in the supermarket to check the label for Australian grown, but that's gonna sneak in, and it'll be big places that use a lot of beef. So, it's awkward sometimes. Well, I find it awkward to ask. The source of things, but we've got to do it. We don't want to eat that beef.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Is Beef Labeled "Raised Without Antibiotics" Actually Antibiotic-Free? A Disturbing Report Reveals, Maybe Not
This article may contain affiliate links that Yahoo and/or the publisher may receive a commission from if you buy a product or service through those links. One of the best tips for grocery shopping is to always read labels. From checking the expiration date to knowing what's in your food, it's best to be fully informed before you add anything to your shopping cart. But what about when the packaging is misleading? That's exactly what's happening right now with beef from some of the world's biggest suppliers. According to a report by Sentient Media, last summer members of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food & Safety Inspection Service — a team within the USDA that makes sure food is safe and accurately labeled — discovered that antibiotics had been used by dozens of meat providers that sell meat labeled as 'antibiotic-free.' They found that 20 percent of the sample of meat labeled as antibiotic-free tested positive for antibiotics. The organization sent out letters to inform these companies, including Tyson, Cargill, and JBS, of their findings. The USDA recommended that these meat producers take steps to figure out how the antibiotics were administered to the animals, and do whatever is necessary to make sure that beef products are no longer mislabeled. But that doesn't mean the companies are doing it. In fact, the USDA keeps approving labels from these same brands without requiring them to show proof of this claim. Essentially there's a widespread mislabeling happening in grocery stores right now. When shoppers intend to purchase beef 'raised without antibiotics,' there's no guarantee that they're actually buying what they want. There's also a concern that overusing antibiotics causes bacteria to evolve more rapidly and become resistant to the drugs when they are actually medically necessary for humans and animals alike. The USDA has updated its guidelines, recommending that companies use a third-party certification to confirm any animal-raising claims, but it's still just a recommendation that has yet to actually be enforced. So, what's the average consumer to do? Right now it's hard to say exactly how to confirm that your meat is in fact free of antibiotics. The best you can do is stay aware of the ongoing mislabeled packaging, and try to shop locally and at farmers markets whenever possible. Sign up for The Kitchn's Daily newsletter to receive our best recipes, posts, and shopping tips in your inbox.
