DDGs defined: Distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) are the co-product of dry-milled ethanol production.

Animals that are grass-fed (forage fed), with the exception of calves consuming milk before weaning, are not fed grain or grain by-products. Instead they are allowed continuous access to pasture during the growing season. This is thought to have beneficial effects upon the products these animals produce(7).

Free Range (Pasture raised, and Cage Free)

The terms “free range”, “pasture raised”, and “cage free” are typically synonymous in terms of marketing. They each refer to the living conditions of the animals, with each respectively describing whether the animal roamed the pasture or range freely, or was raised in a cage-free environment. In commercial farming, the “free” in “free range” usually refers to birds that are free to move around in an outdoor enclosure (8).  Such living conditions are thought to have a beneficial effect on the products produced, as explored in the following section on nutrient quality and composition.

The difficulty in defining these methods is that there is no standard definition of how long pasture-raised or free-range animals graze for their products to qualify with those terms. However, some producers will submit their claims to the USDA (the government department charged with regulating such claims) for approval in order to label their products in a way that avoids liability. Most commonly, animals in pasture-raised or cage-free conditions aren’t exclusively in that environment, but being allowed this option affords the animals the freedom to roam and graze more at will than their conventionally raised counterparts.

Does pasture raised naturally mean less antibiotics given the food they are eating?

Pasture-raised generally refers to the living circumstances of the animal, and so additional labeling and documentation will be required by the producers to detail antibiotic use(9).

Which Do I Choose?

In some cases, conventional agriculture “best practice” seems similar to organic, grass-feed, or free-range  standards(2). So how do you know what to choose?

A recent study in Denmark found three different understandings of health when it comes to consumers and their preference for organic products(10):

• Health as purity (the dominant understanding)
• Health as pleasure
• A Holistic perspective on health (principles behind organic agriculture)

Recent trends in purchasing organic foods reflect consumer preference:

“Health conscious individuals are aware about the health benefits of organic food and are willing to switch from conventional food and pay even higher for organic food”(11).

While organic can cost 10-40% more than similar conventional produce and products and although scientific evidence is still building, organic agriculture seems to contribute to maintaining an optimal health status and decreases the risk of potential adverse health impacts. Scientists generally agree on the following consensus(1,12,13):

“Studies [agree] in finding organic food much less contaminated by pesticides, and with residues of much lower toxicity compared to those found in conventional foods. As for heavy metals…found to be much lower in organic produce…is a positive finding” (12).

Organic food items are rated higher on safety criterion due to lack of artificial techniques used to modify products unnaturally or in unhealthy ways(10).  Organic produce seems to contribute to maintaining an optimal level of health and decreasing risk of chronic disease, including CVD, neurodegenerative diseases, and certain cancers(14,15).

Tip: 

Because food labeling has so many nuances and lacks clear definition at times, it is ideal if you can buy from a local farmer. Many do not have access to one living in a large city, but if you live in a more rural community, you can ask your local farmer 1) what the animal was fed 2) how long the animal (i.e. cow, chicken, pig) was allowed to graze in the pasture 3) if the animal was exposed to antibiotics and for what reason.