Is Buying Organic Beef Worth The Extra Money?

That’s what I call a loaded question.

It’s because everyone’s health and financial situations are different. If you just look at the question without really thinking about it some people might say of course I would pay anything to keep my family healthy. Others may say “it’s just a marketing ploy to get you to spend more money” and others may say I would love to but I just can’t afford to.

Before making the decision to buy organic meat and spend the extra money make sure you know what it means, the impacts and the actual costs.

What Does USDA Organic Mean?

According to the USDA’S National Organic Program (NOP). Organic Food is from farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations.

Organic meats come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Who wants to eat antibiotics or something else’s hormones?

Don’t Get Confused Between Organic Beef and Grass Fed Beef

Just because beef is labeled as grass fed doesn’t mean that it’s also organic, and organic beef does not necessarily mean it’s also grass fed. Check out this post for more info.

Buying organic beef is better for your health than conventional beef, but grass fed organic beef is even better.

You Are What You Eat Ate

Remember that old adage you are what you eat? While that’s very true it’s only the beginning. You’re also what you eat ate, so those antibiotics and hormones make their way up the food chain and into YOU.

Why would ranchers put that stuff in the first place? Doesn’t it make it more expensive? Not when they can produce more meatier animals quicker and raise them in less healthy conditions.

It Goes Both Ways

We just talked about antibiotics and hormones going up the food chain, now lets talk about what happens with antibiotics and hormones going down the food chain.

Yup, I’m talking about waste. Both animal and human waste. Those same hormones and antibiotics are getting transferred back to the soil and water where they accumulate for future use by plants and animals.

Environmental Impacts

Buying organics meats also has the added benefit of being better for the environment.

You need nutrients to grow food. You know what’s in a lot of nutrient rich fertilizers? Cow manure and even human sewage sludge. Yucky but true. With that comes amounts of antibiotics hormones that were given to animals and now going back to the environment.

These hormones and antibiotics are also getting washed away into nearby water bodies such as lakes and streams. As a result aquatic life is being contaminated.

All In?

From a health perspective it’s a “no brainer” for a lot of people. As mothers (not to “dis” the men folk) we want our families to be healthy. That includes ourselves because we have to be be healthy to take care of our loved ones.

You may already be saying I’m never buying conventional meat again, but buying organic is expensive.

My grocery bill has almost doubled since I started buying organic and I’m not even buying everything organic (general food price increases are also a factor).  

If you have limited funds like me you don’t always have a choice.

Not All “Healthier” Beef Is 100% USDA Organic

Some brands of beef are raised without antibiotics or added hormones, fed vegetarian diets and are humanely raised and are not labeled organic. This doesn’t necessarily mean that they don’t meet the USDA organic standard, it just means they haven’t gone through the certification process.

Pay close attention to the labeling if it doesn’t have the USDA stamp on the packaging. It may be labeled as “green” or “healthy,” but unless it lists the specific reasons why, you don’t know what you’re buying and shouldn’t spend the extra money.

How Much More Does Organic Food Cost?

The short answer is a lot. According to a report by Consumer Reports in 2015, the average cost of organic food was 47% more expensive than conventional groceries.

Here’s just one *cost comparisons from my local grocery store.

• Lean Ground Beef per lb
  • Conventional $4.69
  • Organic  $6.59
  • Difference=Approximately 40%

*Prices are constantly changing.

As you can see the cost of buying organic meats are significantly more than conventional meats.  This may not be a revelation to you, but is the extra money worth it to you? That’s a decision only you can make based on your beliefs and bank account.

Why Does Organic Meat Cost So Much?

Just on the surface you may think that organic meats should be cheaper because they don’t have to buy the antibiotics and hormones. But we know that’s not true.

Here are just a few of the reasons.

1. It takes more time (time is money) to raise the animals because they’re not using growth hormones.
2. A lot of time and money that goes into the organic certification process.
3. Special organic farmland requirements.
4. Special education for farmers.
5. Good old supply and demand.  Remember this from your basic economic class? The higher the quantity produced the lower the cost (conventional).  The lower the quantity (organic) the higher the price.
   

Greenwashing

There’s a lot of companies that make unsubstantiated or misleading claims about foods and other items which is known as green washing. So it’s always a good idea to be vigilant when reading labels to make sure your getting what you’re paying for.

To Buy, Or Not to Buy?

We know organic beef is better for your health and the environment, so why wouldn’t you buy it?

Everyone’s situations are different, so your decision needs to take into account your specific situation when determining if buying organic beef is worth the extra money.

Do you think the benefits outweigh the costs?

If money is what’s holding you back then why not try cutting back on the amounts of meat you eat. Try eating it less often, or “stretch” it by using it in recipes with a lot of other ingredients, preferably vegetables.