Whole Story

I am thankful to know that your store has only meat with no anitbotics. Because of my health problems I am very careful the meat I eat. It stands to reason if a farmer lets his animals be raised without antibiotics he would have a healthier animal. Why give antibiotics to an animal or human when there is nothing wrong health wise with either. Antibiotica are to help cure a problem not create one.

Hi--no antibiotics is fine but does that guarantee that the animals are being raised humanely? I'm more concerned about that. They're alreayd donating their lives to us, the least we can do is raise and slaughter them humanely.

We have been buying your meat for some time and think the no antibiotics is great now go the extra mile and give us grass fed animal meat as well. Cows are not intended to be raised on corn and held in tight pens until they are slaughtered. You are doing something worthwhile but it is not all you can do for our health and our planet....Thank you,

You have to read the labels even at Whole Foods very carefully. Free range meats are labeled as such--and they really don't carry that many--and they're EXPENSIVE. The 6 oz. of turkey meat I bought last week ran at $16 a pound. Note that the sign in the meat cases say chickens are "barn roaming." I'm wondering what this means. Are they free to move about in the barn or are they in cages like other big meat producers? If animals are grass-roaming, range-roaming, they have signs by it and you'll pay a lot for it. Otherwise, I'd like more information on how the "barn roaming" animals are raised.

Folks, it's a simple equation that we have strayed from since industrialization and farm subsidies. The sum of the equation is that you must reacquaint yourselves with your local farmers. Go to go to the secondary source (the farmer) they will re-involve you with the primary source of clean, real food - the Sun. This is not as crazy as it sounds, for two reasons. First of all - the only sources of real food are products of the shortest chain between the Sun and your stomach. If you eat foods fresh from the garden that are not exposed to pesticides and herbicides, you have created the healthiest nutritional situation for yourself (the shortest chain). Secondly, the next situation involves the growth of your meat. Eat Ruminant. Ruminants are 4 stomach animals that are genetically and physiologically designed to digest grasses (not corn). Cattle, goats, sheep, buffalo and deer are all examples of Ruminants. Sure, eating chicken and pork is great, if they are fed a diet that is consistent with their natural biological needs and of equal or greater importance – is their living and processing conditions. Almost all of these animals that are available through conventional sources are raised in CAFO’s (concentrated animal feed operations). Regardless of whether these animals are fed organically or not - the animals are unclean with a high probability of being unhealthy (by way of living conditions, slaughter and further processing). The condition of individual meat producing animals can be deplorable in ways that are not measured by regulatory agencies, which brings me to my next point. The process, the entire process has to be holistic – from the soil that grows the grasses and vegetables to the dinner table. No matter how pure or pristine the raw materials are . . . you simply can not expose true quality to an inferior or tainted processing and distribution system. At very best this system jeopardizes the quality of the finished product, and at worst – has become completely tainted that which is processed. The viewpoints that I’ve shared are not from a purely philosophical perspective . . . I farm . . not monoculture . . . I raise animals, fruits and vegetables – for people who have come to expect more from their food. I grow it to produce qualities that they can not find from conventional food source. We have a free flowing exchange of my commitment . . . and their involvement. Which brings us back to my original point, the most important step that anyone can take is to - get involved, please involve yourself with food that does not have a bar code. Get to know your farmers and let them know in no uncertain terms that if they grow food with integrity - you will buy it from them. This insures the future of clean, identifiable food sources, that employ sustainable agricultural practices. All the best. Paul ptsoule461@sbcglobal.net

Our product selection varies from store to store, so please check in with your local store directly. Thanks! http://bit.ly/allstore

@Susan, There is currently no clear regulatory definition of terms such as “free range” and "barn roaming". We expect our suppliers who use these types of claims on their products to use a reasonable definition and we expect the claims to be truthful. We understand that many of our shoppers seek products raised under more clearly defined conditions, and we encourage those shoppers to choose organic. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Standards, all organic livestock are required to have access to the outdoors, shade, shelter, exercise areas, fresh air, and direct sunlight suitable to the species, the climate, and the environment. All organic producers are certified by a USDA-accredited certifying agent. To learn more about meat and poultry labeling terms please visit: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/Meat_and_Poultry_Labeling_Terms.pdf Thanks!

Dear whole Foods, One of the comments on your meat article refers to CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) as being "one of those EVIL saturated fats!"(posted by "RC the radical chicken" - Feb 2010). This is just not true... CLA is naturally found in ruminant animals (i.e. cows, goats) and full fat dairy products. Unlike many "bad" fats (think trans fats), CLA is definitely one of the "good" fats. There are over 18 human clinical trials showing the benfits of CLA in healthy body composition and reducing body fat. CLA has achieved the status of GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) from the FDA, which confirms the safety of this ingredient. Whole Foods is on the right track is focusing on grass-fed cows, since grass feeding actually produces more CLA, which is better for the cow and for humans. Also, Whole Foods has chosen to market CLA as a dietary supplement under several different brands, typically as an oil in a softgel. Best Regards, Sharrann Simmnons

i think w eneed whole grain foods r very important tody in this sick world

@Donna: Our suppliers are different throughout the country. Please ask a Team Member behind the meat counter at the store where you shop. Thanks!

Our standards for meat are no added hormones* and no antibiotics. We believe in great-tasting meat from healthy animals. You can learn more about our meat by clicking here: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/meat/ *Federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones in raising pork, poultry, goat, veal and bison.

Lets see it is now 2012 and it has new superbug from antibiotics in chickens causing bladder infections that are antibiotic resistant. I glad I have been buying whole foods chicken for five years and to me it is work the extra. My son is almost five he just had his fist cold I refused antibiotics he has never had them and and he is healthier for it he had a sore throat fever but I gave him makuna honey, pineapple, coconut milk and apples tylenol and he is better and antibiotic free. breastfeed him til he was three only at bedtime after two. He has a great immune system. My chop peditrician has never seen a child go this long without a cold. stick with natural god gave us everything we need in natural food etc. breast cancer and leukemia drugs come from the rainforest. just look around we dont need all these big pharmaceauticals push on us.