how can i know if the meat i am eating is from a factory farm or not? i know big companies is a sure-fire way to tell. but is it even possible to eat meat that didnt come from a factory farm?
2007-11-26 16:07:32 · 11 answers · asked by antiflag3535 1 in Food & Drink ➔ Vegetarian & Vegan
Unfortunately, they all go through the same slaughterhouses. You may be able to find meat that wasn't raised in a factory farm, but you won't find any that wasn't killed in one.
2007-11-26 16:28:36 · answer #1 · answered by evilnumberlady 4 · 0⤊ 4⤋
Serendipity:
I starred this question yesterday, wanting to know myself. I don't want any meat, but my husband eats meat once or twice a week.
Last night I read about the website http://www.localharvest.org/
and visited it. It is so cool. It's a registry of farmers markets and organic markets, family farms, and community-sponsored agriculture farms. I've heard of the CSA's before (community members buy a share of the farm, and are entitled to produce in exchange) but had no idea how to find one.
You enter your zipcode at the site, and find out what's in your area. Or there are the pages that sort by who will ship what.
If we were still in the States, I would be signing up for farm eggs and veggies. There are also free-range poultry farms, and family livestock farms that don't use antibiotics, etc.
To answer above:
No, an animal is not bound to die in the same way on a factory farm or a family farm. Having spent time on a family hog farm when I was growing up, I never saw any of the machinations used to slaughter at a factory farm.
For my husband, I would like to find an organic meat source that is also Kosher or Halal. Not for religious purposes, but because those methods treat the animals with more respect.
2007-11-28 19:49:15 · answer #2 · answered by aggylu 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Try the local Farmers Market.
Try to contact & buy directly from a farmer. Go have a coffee and with meet him, see first hand what his farm is like.
Try Organic Farms, they are in the business to raise REAL meat. No pesticides, No additives, or chemicals used juring the raising of animals.
85% of food is imported into America from other Countries. If anything travels long distances, it is filled with additives and preservatives.
The best thing to do is travel and visit some local farms. Take a look. You'll know exactly what your getting by the way they handle and take care of their animals/plants.
2007-11-27 22:00:28 · answer #3 · answered by Stony 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, it's totally possible.
In general, the smaller the farm or ranch, the better. Look for "pasture-raised" or "range-raised" on the package. Your best bet, of course, is to visit the farms.
Check out Wild Ideas. It's a buffalo ranch. I wholeheartedly approve of Dan's methods of raising the buffalo. It's as close to natural as you can get as far as I'm concerned.
I haven't actually visited Thundering Hooves, but most of its animals live outside and eat naturally and organically.
Both of these resources also are conscious of the impact on the environment and try to work with it. The former restored acres and acres of plains into natural prairie grasslands in order to feed the buffalo. The later rotates their herds to give fields a chance to recover after being grazed from.
2007-11-27 00:27:10 · answer #4 · answered by Julia S 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Make friends with a local producer who raises livestock in a way you agree with (be it free-range or grass-fed or whatever). One good way to find such people is to go to a local farmers' market and see who is there or contact the local agricultural board. In many states, you can find information on a website about eating locally. Local foods are better for the environment (limited use of transportation) and you can really know where they are coming from and how they are raised.
Such meat is usually much better tasting than what you will find in the supermarket--you won't go back to supermarket meat after enjoying good, locally-raised meat.
Good luck!
2007-11-27 00:18:08 · answer #5 · answered by Greg W 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
well, Ranch Direct is a major brand, and like resturaunts will definitely say on their menu if they have Ranch Direct Meat, otherwise, if the menu doesn't say, or the package of meat your are buying at the store, then it is not
2007-11-27 00:19:05 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cutting out meat from your diet is the best advice I can give you.
2014-08-05 23:08:19 · answer #7 · answered by Charlotte 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unless you personally buy it from the source you'll never know.
2007-11-27 00:13:46 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Go "Hunting"....and 'bag' your own !!! - Seriously, the very
best & purest meat you can get !
2007-11-27 03:03:12 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
You don't unless you pick it up yourself from the source.
2007-11-27 00:15:59 · answer #10 · answered by FlexiVegan 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋