Food Label Series: Pork
Oink Oink!! Time for some info on pork.
This is the third installment of my mini series on food labels.
Animals that are allowed to live in their natural environment, soaking up sunshine are always the best option. They contain more Vitamin E and Vitamin D than animals living in a barn or building. Not to mention less stress and anxiety.
Today there are more than 60,000 pig farms in the US.
There are several types: (1) small scale
(2) large scale
(3) niche markets such as pasture-raised and heirloom breeds.
So when thinking about pork, there are three labels that can be found in all industries: ANIMAL WELFARE APPROVED, CERTIFIED HUMANE and ANIMAL WELFARE CERTIFIED or (GLOBAL ANIMAL PARTNERSHIP). These labels ensure that humane practices are the standard. This lowers the stress and anxiety levels of the animals.
Free range/raised outdoors/free roaming: the USDA standard is that the pork must spend 80% of their life outdoors.
Certified Organic: Raised on organic land with organic feed and no animal byproducts. These animals spend their life outdoors.
No added Hormones: Added hormones are not allowed in the raising of pork. This label should be followed by: "Federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones." All cellular organisms have hormones so "no hormones" is an inaccurate statement. You want to look for " no ADDED hormones."
Local grown: There are no FDA regulations on this label. So unless you are at a farmer's market, "locally grown" really has very little meaning.
Naturally Raised: Some pork products may contain this label. It could mean the animal was raised without antibiotics or growth hormones, may have straw bedding or had access to the outdoors.
No Nitrates or Nitrates Added: Cured meats must include sodium nitrate. Some uncured meats may use ingredients like beet or celery juice to give the color and taste of cured meats. Nitrates and Nitrites are actually two separate things but when discussing them it can get confusing. Without giving a long explanation, a high intake of nitrites can be harmful to your health.
Cured meats: This is usually foods like ham, sausage and bacon. Curing salts and other chemicals are added to prohibit the growth of bacteria. Uncured meats are actually healthier from the use of vegetables containing nitrates.
So remember to use this as a guide and choose your meats wisely. Purchasing from your local farmer's market is always a good choice. You can ask the farmer directly how the animal is raised and what it eats. Personally, I love bacon and sausage and grew up on those homegrown meats. I still eat those occasional meats today, but strictly in moderation. If you have any questions regarding labels for pork and other proteins, feel free to reach out!