The U.K., China, Russia, Taiwan and the European Union ban or limit the use of ractopamine, a drug that promotes growth in pigs, cattle and turkeys. Ractopamine is linked with serious health and behavioral problems in animals, and human studies are limited but evoke concerns, according to the Center for Food Safety.
# Ractopamine: The Hidden Additive in Your Pork Explained
Dr. Oz mentioned this book.
This ractopamine drug is wild. So, we could be eating it, and not even know it.
I like sausage. I looked for organic sausage at the grocery store, and I couldnât find any.
Jeez. Eating healthy is starting to feel like Iâm trying to dodge bullets in the middle of a gun fight.
Whoâd-a-thought that eating untainted food could be so complicated?
@SmallPaul Is there anything youâre trying to eat more of, less of, or avoid?
I avoid sugar and salt, You can buy seasoning without salt
As we discussed with eggs, Whole Foods is the best place for me to get groceries and meat. They offer some of the cleanest organic foods.
I donât think I can ever stop eating meat.
Our baseline requirements for our Meat department are stronger than most anywhere.
In our Meat department, all fresh beef, pork, chicken, turkey, goat and lamb (except kosher turkey and kosher chicken, due to slaughter differences) must be certified to meet 100+ animal welfare standards by the Global Animal Partnership.
In 2024, we expanded our animal welfare standards to require certification across the entire Meat department, offering our shoppers even more animal-welfare certified choices. When the transition is complete it will cover all meat and poultry in the Meat department, including fresh products of all species, as well as frozen and prepackaged items, such as heat-and-eat, ready-to-cook, ready-to-eat, smoked and cured/uncured.
We also began accepting additional animal welfare certifications, providing shoppers with the transparency they expect and deserve by requiring that the certification seal appears on product packaging. Offering our suppliers multiple options for animal welfare certification enables producers of differing scale and size to choose the program that best complements their farming system.
These Whole Foods Market approved third-party certifications offer rigorous standards focused on animal welfare that cover the entire life of the animal, with each certification requiring 100+ animal welfare standards:
⌠G.A.P. Animal Welfare Certified
⌠A Greener World (AGW) Animal Welfare Approved
⌠Certified Humane Raised & Handled
⌠Regenerative Organic Certified
Founded in 2008, Global Animal Partnership is a nonprofit organization of farmers, scientists, retailers, manufacturers and animal advocates. The G.A.P. Animal Welfare Certified tiered system gives shoppers the knowledge to make informed food choices, and provides farmers and ranchers with a road map to improve their welfare practices.
Below are the descriptions youâll find on Animal Welfare Certified items. From Base Certification to Step 5+, each step has its own requirements that must be met before authorized, independent certifiers can assign a level of certification.
In 2014, A Greener World launched with a mission that includes promoting agricultural systems that can have a positive impact on animals, providing guidance to livestock farmers and ranchers and establishing farm certification programs, including Animal Welfare Approved.
Certified Humane Raised and Handled is a farm-animal welfare certification program developed by a 40-member scientific committee of animal scientists and veterinarians. This certification requires farmers and processors to comply with precise, objective standards for humane treatment of animals and traceability.
The Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA) is a nonprofit collaboration that seeks to elevate and further regenerative organic agriculture through its Regenerative Organic Certified program, which builds on a baseline requirement of organic certification with additional criteria within three pillars: soil health, animal welfare and social fairness.
We hold all of our meat to high standards. But different animals have different welfare needs, and we strive to address those as well. Here are some ways in which the many types of meats we sell are held to specific standards:
From organic, kosher or air-chilled fresh chicken to frozen gluten-free chicken nuggets, each of our stores offers its own selection for everyday and special occasions. Our fresh chicken must meet our basic Meat department standards. In addition, it must be G.A.P. Animal Welfare Certified (except kosher chicken, which must meet the G.A.P. standards but cannot be certified due to different slaughter requirements).
We take the welfare of broiler chickens seriously. Learn more about our commitment to broiler chicken welfare.
Weâre pleased to offer the best selection of beef around with organic, grass-fed, local, dry-aged and grain-finished choices. Every option is high quality with great flavor. All of our fresh beef must meet our basic Meat department standards and be G.A.P. Animal Welfare Certified.
We work with dedicated farms and producers to make sure that our pork is the best, whether itâs for everyday meals or your special celebrations. From thick-cut pork chops to organic ground pork, each of our stores offers its own selection for everyday and special occasions. All of our fresh pork must meet our Meat department standards and be G.A.P. Animal Welfare Certified and include the following:
Heritage, heirloom, organic, kosher â these are just a few words that describe our extensive selection of turkeys. Each of our stores offers its own selection for everyday and special occasions. Our fresh turkey must meet our basic Meat department standards and the birds must be provided with appropriate litter for comfort and to satisfy natural foraging instincts. In addition, it must be G.A.P. Animal Welfare Certified (except kosher turkey, which must meet the G.A.P. standards but cannot be certified due to different slaughter requirements).
Perfect for burgers, oven roasting or grilling â lamb is a versatile meat for everyday and special occasions. From an impressive grass-fed rack of lamb to seasoned lamb sausages, all of our fresh lamb must meet our Meat department standards and be G.A.P. Animal Welfare Certified, which includes the following:
Read more about our lamb standards and suppliers.
From tender cutlets to organic ground veal, each of our stores offers its own selection for everyday and special occasions. Our standards prohibit calves being kept in individual stalls or crates, so they have social interactions with other animals. And the meat is exceptional, tender and versatile. Our veal must meet our Meat department standards and adhere to the following:
Our bacon, hot dogs and sausages meet our basic Meat department standards and are made without synthetic nitrates or nitrites. All frozen items in our Meat department, including breaded chicken nuggets, breakfast sausages and more, must meet our standards as well.
Just like any food labeled âorganicâ in the U.S., meat products have to meet very specific, federally regulated standards, including for organic processing. Meat and poultry labeled organic must come from animals fed organic â which also means non-GMO â feed, given fresh air and outdoor access, and raised without antibiotics or added growth hormones.*
Watch this video to learn more about our meat suppliers and products that go above and beyond.
Take a tour of Thompson Farms, a family-owned hog farm in Georgia that supplies pork to Whole Foods Market and is G.A.P. Animal Welfare Certified to Step 4.
*There are no hormones approved for use in the production of poultry, goat, veal calves, mature sheep or exotic, non-amenable species (such as bison, buffalo, elk and venison).
Obviously, things might be a bit different when dining out, but thatâs life.
Thatâs great! I like this traceability part.
Same here. I often have prepared meals from the supermarket. It could be chicken, rice, veggies, and some sauce; or meatloaf, green beans, and mashed potatoes. I started reading the sodium levels and now I split those meals in two.
Iâm in a situation where I canât eat exactly how I want, but Iâm trying to be as healthy as possible. One thing thatâs important for me is to focus on drinking water.
I donât drink much else, lately.
Avoiding foods with heavy sugar and salt can be uncomfortable at first, but you get used to it.
You might miss eating that stuff on a regular basis, but I think eventually you learn to dislike eating it so much.
And I think eating junk food once in a while is ok. Moderation is key. A little pie and ice cream ainât hurt nobody!
Whoa!!
Even before eating it, I think youâll feel better buying/supporting that kind of meat.
Thatâs crazy to have those kinds of standards for hotdogs and nuggets!
I hope Whole Foods never goes public! Thatâll be the end of their integrity.
Good to know I also do the same, I also drink at least two of these a week, itâs the safest out of all their hydration drinks.
Letâs hope they stay the same.
Whole Foods Market, Inc., a subsidiary of Amazon, is an American multinational supermarket chain headquartered in Austin, Texas, which sells products free from hydrogenated fats and artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.(Whole Foods Market - Wikipedia) A USDA Certified Organic grocer in the United States, the chain is popularly known for its organic selections.(Whole Foods Market - Wikipedia) As of March 4, 2019, Whole Foods has more than 500 stores in North America and seven in the United Kingdom.(Whole Foods Market - Wikipedia
WholeFoodsCompanyInfo-(Whole Foods Market - Wikipedia)
Amazon acquired the company for $13.7 billion on August 28, 2017
Also, I admit I do eat products that contain sugar like candy bars, cookies, pies, and cakes, the key here is not to overdo it.
I donât think I can ever stop eating meat and I love these standards so why not eat meat that is healthier for your body
Our baseline requirements for our Meat department are stronger than most anywhere.
In our Meat department, all fresh beef, pork, chicken, turkey, goat and lamb (except kosher turkey and kosher chicken, due to slaughter differences) must be certified to meet 100+ animal welfare standards by the Global Animal Partnership.
In 2024, we expanded our animal welfare standards to require certification across the entire Meat department, offering our shoppers even more animal-welfare certified choices. When the transition is complete it will cover all meat and poultry in the Meat department, including fresh products of all species, as well as frozen and prepackaged items, such as heat-and-eat, ready-to-cook, ready-to-eat, smoked and cured/uncured.
We also began accepting additional animal welfare certifications, providing shoppers with the transparency they expect and deserve by requiring that the certification seal appears on product packaging. Offering our suppliers multiple options for animal welfare certification enables producers of differing scale and size to choose the program that best complements their farming system.
These Whole Foods Market approved third-party certifications offer rigorous standards focused on animal welfare that cover the entire life of the animal, with each certification requiring 100+ animal welfare standards:
⌠G.A.P. Animal Welfare Certified
⌠A Greener World (AGW) Animal Welfare Approved
⌠Certified Humane Raised & Handled
⌠Regenerative Organic Certified
Founded in 2008, Global Animal Partnership is a nonprofit organization of farmers, scientists, retailers, manufacturers and animal advocates. The G.A.P. Animal Welfare Certified tiered system gives shoppers the knowledge to make informed food choices, and provides farmers and ranchers with a road map to improve their welfare practices.
Below are the descriptions youâll find on Animal Welfare Certified items. From Base Certification to Step 5+, each step has its own requirements that must be met before authorized, independent certifiers can assign a level of certification.
In 2014, A Greener World launched with a mission that includes promoting agricultural systems that can have a positive impact on animals, providing guidance to livestock farmers and ranchers and establishing farm certification programs, including Animal Welfare Approved.
Certified Humane Raised and Handled is a farm-animal welfare certification program developed by a 40-member scientific committee of animal scientists and veterinarians. This certification requires farmers and processors to comply with precise, objective standards for humane treatment of animals and traceability.
The Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA) is a nonprofit collaboration that seeks to elevate and further regenerative organic agriculture through its Regenerative Organic Certified program, which builds on a baseline requirement of organic certification with additional criteria within three pillars: soil health, animal welfare and social fairness.
We hold all of our meat to high standards. But different animals have different welfare needs, and we strive to address those as well. Here are some ways in which the many types of meats we sell are held to specific standards:
From organic, kosher or air-chilled fresh chicken to frozen gluten-free chicken nuggets, each of our stores offers its own selection for everyday and special occasions. Our fresh chicken must meet our basic Meat department standards. In addition, it must be G.A.P. Animal Welfare Certified (except kosher chicken, which must meet the G.A.P. standards but cannot be certified due to different slaughter requirements).
We take the welfare of broiler chickens seriously. Learn more about our commitment to broiler chicken welfare.
Weâre pleased to offer the best selection of beef around with organic, grass-fed, local, dry-aged and grain-finished choices. Every option is high quality with great flavor. All of our fresh beef must meet our basic Meat department standards and be G.A.P. Animal Welfare Certified.
We work with dedicated farms and producers to make sure that our pork is the best, whether itâs for everyday meals or your special celebrations. From thick-cut pork chops to organic ground pork, each of our stores offers its own selection for everyday and special occasions. All of our fresh pork must meet our Meat department standards and be G.A.P. Animal Welfare Certified and include the following:
Heritage, heirloom, organic, kosher â these are just a few words that describe our extensive selection of turkeys. Each of our stores offers its own selection for everyday and special occasions. Our fresh turkey must meet our basic Meat department standards and the birds must be provided with appropriate litter for comfort and to satisfy natural foraging instincts. In addition, it must be G.A.P. Animal Welfare Certified (except kosher turkey, which must meet the G.A.P. standards but cannot be certified due to different slaughter requirements).
Perfect for burgers, oven roasting or grilling â lamb is a versatile meat for everyday and special occasions. From an impressive grass-fed rack of lamb to seasoned lamb sausages, all of our fresh lamb must meet our Meat department standards and be G.A.P. Animal Welfare Certified, which includes the following:
Read more about our lamb standards and suppliers.
From tender cutlets to organic ground veal, each of our stores offers its own selection for everyday and special occasions. Our standards prohibit calves being kept in individual stalls or crates, so they have social interactions with other animals. And the meat is exceptional, tender and versatile. Our veal must meet our Meat department standards and adhere to the following:
Our bacon, hot dogs and sausages meet our basic Meat department standards and are made without synthetic nitrates or nitrites. All frozen items in our Meat department, including breaded chicken nuggets, breakfast sausages and more, must meet our standards as well.
Just like any food labeled âorganicâ in the U.S., meat products have to meet very specific, federally regulated standards, including for organic processing. Meat and poultry labeled organic must come from animals fed organic â which also means non-GMO â feed, given fresh air and outdoor access, and raised without antibiotics or added growth hormones.*
Watch this video to learn more about our meat suppliers and products that go above and beyond.
Take a tour of Thompson Farms, a family-owned hog farm in Georgia that supplies pork to Whole Foods Market and is G.A.P. Animal Welfare Certified to Step 4.
*There are no hormones approved for use in the production of poultry, goat, veal calves, mature sheep or exotic, non-amenable species (such as bison, buffalo, elk and venison).
I only recently learned about regenerative farming; I like how itâs incorporated into their standards.
Whole Foods appears to be quite thoroughâfrom soup to nuts. Or more accurately, from farm to market.
@SmallPaul Do you think it would be possible for smaller, or even mom and pops, grocers to apply such standards to their stores?
Also, do you think schools should incorporate such food into their meals for children?
Right! Eating a snickers wonât hurt us.
It would be cool if there werenât any harmful chemicals in these sweets, though. It might compromise the final product, but Iâm willing to take that loss.
Even ice creamâthereâs junk ice cream for $1.79 which has over 15 ingredients,
Organic school lunch??
The organic and sustainably grown foods contain up to
58% more polyphenolics, which act as antioxidants, and may
help prevent heart disease and cancer.
These guys donât know how lucky they are, compared to what I had in U.S. schools
Never did I imagine that Iâd want to go back to high schoolâŚhaha
I wonder what tuition is there, compared to other schools.
Whatever the price is, it seems those students are getting their parentsâ moneyâs worth.
@SmallPaul What school lunch do you remember?
What I remember most was the club sandwiches. Bread, ham, cheese, some soggy lettuce, a packet of mayonaise, and a packet of mustard.
And a chocolate milk.
This seems to be the standard in some Western countries, Same here but canât forget the school pizzas from time to time. 
I love school cafeteria pizza back in the 80s. The lunch ladies started doing something in the 90s that wasnât as great, but THIS recipe tastes spot on for how it was back in the 80s lunchrooms when I was in elementary and middle school.
I remember school mini pizza looking like this:
I like that retro tupperware sheâs got!!
Itâs funny how she told viewers to get off her case about how she scoops flour.
Just out of curiosity, how long did it take?
Did you make a casserole or did you make it in the pan?
How was your cream sauce? Did it have tons of garlic? (I love garlic!)
The key difference between mutton and lamb is the age of the sheep when itâs slaughtered. âMutton, which comes from older sheep,â Baki explained, âhas a stronger, more robust flavor and tougher texture compared to younger lamb, which is milder and more tender.â Most lamb is slaughtered between six and eight months old and hasnât developed a lot of fat and muscle, so it will have lean meat.
Read More: Lamb Vs Mutton: What's The Difference And When To Cook With Each Type
