How to Decode Meat Labels

Confused about what the labels on packaged meat mean? Here's a guide to decoding labels on beef, chicken, and pork products in the supermarket, including organic, natural, free-range, cage-free, grass-fed, and certified humane.

When you choose to include meat in your family’s meals, the many different labels can make it difficult to know which are the best choices. Here, a decoder to bring along on your next supermarket trip:

Cage-free: Flock is able to freely roam within their shelter with unlimited access to food and fresh water

Free-range: Flock is provided with shelter but given continuous access to the outdoors (may be fenced or netted), as well as unlimited access to food and fresh water

Grass-fed: Received the majority of its nutrients from grass, but diets may have been supplemented with grain

Grass-fed organic: Grass-fed and free of antibiotics, hormones, and pesticides

Natural: No synthetic or artificial ingredients or added color. Not fed animal by-products, animal waste by-products, or aquatic by-products. Minimally processed. No growth promotants, and no antibiotics (other than one used to prevent parasitism)

No antibiotics (red meat and poultry): No antibiotics used in raising the animals

No hormones (beef): No hormones added or used in raising the animals

No hormones (pork and poultry): Contains no artificial ingredients or added color; minimally processed

USDA organic:

• Produced without excluded practices (e.g. no genetic engineering, no irradiation)