2

It is common in UK supermarkets to see packs of beef labelled 'grass-fed'. What is the legal significance, if any, of this term? If there is, a reference to an official source would be appreciated.

I have seen apparently conflicting statements on different websites. Some (eg here and here) state that there is no legal definition of 'grass fed' in the UK. Others (eg here and here refer to a definition of 'grass-fed' as fed at least 51% on grass, or equivalently not more than 49% on other foods. This site, confusingly (see under the heading 'Is all grassfed the same?'), seems to make both claims.

A clarification. It seems to be generally recognised in this context that 'grass' includes grass-based feed in the form of hay, silage, etc. The distinction at issue here is between grass and grass-based feed on the one hand and concentrated feeds such as those including wheat, corn (maize) and fats on the other.

Adam Bailey
  • 123
  • 6

2 Answers2

3

At the time of writing there is no definition in law of "grass-fed" or "pasture-fed", they are marketing terms.

This was a subject of a government food labeling consultation in 2024:

Marketing terms: words or phrases used to promote a product, and which are not legally defined or otherwise certified, for example, grass-fed

- Consultation on fairer food labelling, Defra, May 2024

And in 2021:

*Marketing terms: words or phrases used to promote a product, and which are not legally defined or otherwise certified, for example ‘grass-fed’

Consumers are protected by existing regulation that states that food information should not be misleading, including in relation to the method of production. While this can be inferred from guidance, case law or research, it is ultimately a case-by-case judgement. For example, marketing terms on labels, such as ‘grass-fed’, can have varying definitions between retailers. Farm assurance schemes, such as Quality Meat Scotland and Pasture for Life, are industry-led initiatives aiming to address some of these issues.

- Labelling for animal welfare: Call for evidence, Defra, September 2021

Defra - the government's Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Lag
  • 20,104
  • 2
  • 46
  • 76
2

The US Department of Agriculture offers the following definition:

"Grass (Forage) Fed" means that grass and forage shall be the feed source consumed for the lifetime of the ruminant animal, with the exception of milk consumed prior to weaning. The diet shall be derived solely from forage consisting of grass (annual and perennial), forbs (e.g., legumes, Brassica), browse, or cereal grain crops in the vegetative (pre-grain) state. Animals cannot be fed grain or grain byproducts and must have continuous access to pasture during the growing season.

Since beef is extensively traded internationally, I would expect that the definition in most countries would be substantially identical. That is beef in a UK store labeled “grass fed” would be using the same definition whether the beef was packed in the UK, the USA, or France.

Dale M
  • 237,717
  • 18
  • 273
  • 546