Wa_usa_small
Reputation: 2677

Is there a "dirty dozen" and "clean 15" type list for meat? Are certain types of meat more or less important to buy organic or hormone-free, etc?

You know that list of "dirty dozen" fruits/vegetables to always buy organic, and the list of "clean 15" that you can go ahead and buy conventional because they're more resistant to pesticides?

Is there an equivalent for meat? Are certain meats safer to eat from non-organic suppliers? Are there certain types of meat that it is especially important to buy hormone-free or organic etc?

Answer this question or share it with a smart friend:

Avatar_default
Type your answer here…

Asker's Favorite

  • Avatar_default
    Reputation: 79
    Business

    Organic doesn't hold the safe seal for me. It simply doesn't mean what it used to. To answer your question and not go off into some political tirade (although meat IS political) factory farm vs small local farm should be your real concern. The "organic and free range" chicken may eat organic corn/feed and have a door barely large enough for one of the thousands of birds to travel through to an outside place (free range) that is no bigger than my deck. I personally have come to the conclusion that anything we consume the most of as a nation (Beef, Pork, Poultry we should be the most cautious of. Big Ag. unfortunately keeps finding ways to raising these animals cheaper and cheaper (to keep up with the demand) at a bigger profit and at a health cost to us. First step...Read the label... for sure hormones are not good for us, antibiotics are not good for us and the bigger the company, the less safe and good for us it is. Best bet...take some time out of your day, travel to a farmers market, eat less meat and be happy that you pay more for it now. Pay now or pay later. I just couldn't stay away for the politics.

    Share this answer with a friend:

4 Other Answers

  • Avatar_carrieoliver_small
    Reputation: 40

    Everyone draws the line at a different place. For me, I prefer to avoid meat from livestock that were raised with growth stimulants such as added hormones or a newer class of drugs collectively called beta agonists (ractopamine also known as Paylean for pork and Optaflexx for cattle). Whether or not there's any risk from a food safety perspective or any impact on the livestock themselves, both can impact the flavor and texture of the meat, in my experience making beef blander and almost chalky. I also prefer to eat meat from livestock that have not been administered with what I'll call preventative antibiotics whether through their feed, a needle, or water. As for chicken, it's quite difficult in my area to find birds that have not been treated post mortem with brine/saline solutions but it's worth trying.

    Share this answer with a friend:
  • 211448_559967205_6715099_n_small
    Reputation: 79

    I'm not sure I fully understand this question. If you are specifically looking to avoid dioxins, then you'll want to limit the fats. Dioxins (if present at all) accumulate in the fat of meat & poultry animals as well as fish. This would apply to organic as well. Dioxins are in our environment. They are a product of our industrial world.

    If that's not what you were asking, then I apologize.

    Share this answer with a friend:
  • Pig_small
    Reputation: 7
    Business

    I don't make purchasing decisions based on whether or not meat is organic, because I haven't seen anything to convince me that it will impact my health one way or the other.

    I'm essentially living on a meat diet composed of my own product.

    Share this answer with a friend:
  • Bierce1_small
    Reputation: 640

    "Are certain meats safer to eat from non-organic suppliers?"

    Well, obviously whole meats are far more safe than ground meats & ends. I really should buy myself a meat-grinder one of these days.

    Share this answer with a friend: