Is Kerrygold Butter Grass Fed?

With a class-action lawsuit filed against Kerrygold many are asking is Kerrygold butter grass-fed? And does it matter if our food is 100% grass-fed?

A class-action lawsuit has been filed against Kerrygold for misleading labeling. Kerrygold butter says it’s grass-fed and many people pay the premium price for the benefits that are believed to come from eating grass-fed butter.

“The grass-fed claims made by the defendant regarding the Kerrygold products are false, misleading and deceptive. During certain times of the year, Kerrygold feeds its cows genetically modified and other grains – not grass – such that the resulting products are not strictly ‘grass-fed,’” alleges the Kerrygold butter class action lawsuit.

This news has been spreading on social media and shocking many people. People are saying they will no longer buy Kerrygold and many are pretty angry about the news.

Is Kerrygold Butter Grass-Fed?

Kerrygold actually has had this information on their website.

“Throughout the year, to ensure optimum health of the animals, a typical Irish dairy cow’s grass-based diet also includes a very small amount of supplementary feed. This is used to give the cows a healthy and balanced blend of nutrients, providing them with protein, energy, fibre and micronutrients.” –Kerrygold

And this isn’t the first time this issue has been discussed on social media. Many bloggers talked about it in 2013 when updates were made to the Kerrygold website about how the cattle are fed.

One blogger posted about the issue in 2013 saying she was ditching Kerrygold due to allergy concerns and general concerns over the cattle being supplemented with grains.

“Kerrygold has updated and changed some of the information on their website. If you are budgeting for Kerrygold (like me) in order to avoid food allergies, or to obtain the highest quality real food product, then you may want to pay attention to the changes.”- Hopecentric

The thing is Kerrygold isn’t the only product labeled grass-fed where the cattle are given supplemental feed. It’s very common. Business Insider talked about this issue a couple of years ago.

“On January 12, 2016, the Agricultural Marketing Service, a branch of the US Department of Agriculture, announced that it was dropping its official definition of “grass-fed.” In a statement, the AMS claimed that it doesn’t have the authority to define and determine whether specific grass-fed claims that companies make on their packaging are “truthful and not misleading.”- What ‘grass-fed’ labels on beef actually mean- Business Insider

And it’s true, just because something says grass-fed doesn’t mean it’s 100% grass-fed.

Does it Matter if it’s 100% Grass-Fed?

This is really up to each person and what their goal is. If your goal is to avoid animal products where corn or soy may have been given to the animal, then yes you need to look for 100% grass-fed products.

If you want the possible health benefits thought to come from grass-fed products then small amounts of supplementation are likely not a big deal. The products still are shown to have less fat, higher levels of some nutrition, and are better for the environment.

If you buy local products be sure to talk to the ranchers about how they raise the products. Sometimes supplementation is necessary for the safety of the herd.

In Oklahoma, we have had a lot of years with major hay shortages that have forced ranchers to supplement with feed to save their herds. Even this year, hay shortages have been a big problem around the state. In 2011, many ranchers were forced to sell off their herds due to a shortage and major drought. 

Consider your reasons for wanting grass-fed beef and dairy before deciding if you need to stop buying products like Kerrygold butter.

How to Find 100% Grass-Fed Dairy and Beef

If you want to buy 100% grass-fed products there are a few ways to do that.

• Look for products that say 100% grass-fed not just grass-fed.
• Choose products with the American Grassfed Association label. Their standards require 100% grass-fed.
• Check a local farmer’s market or talk to local dairy farms and check the descriptions of the products. You can also contact the farm to get more information on how they raise their animals.

In short, the best way to know what you are eating is to buy locally and talk directly to the source. Check out Getting to Know Your Meat to learn more.

More Articles You May Enjoy