On The Hunt for Honest Meat: A Diner's Guide

When it comes to dining out, knowing where your meat comes from can feel like a scavenger hunt. “Where to eat, what to eat, and why” start circling around in your head like a cartoon as you try to make your Friday night dinner resy. Let’s make it as easy as possible for you. Trust your instincts and remember, informed choices lead to delicious outcomes, so let's take a closer look at how to align your plate with your values.

Look for Farm Names

In general, restaurants that source from producers who raise animals with values and ethics are going to call it out. So that’s your first tip — look for the name of a farm or ranch. Restaurants want to showcase their sourcing as much as possible, so this is usually a green light. If you don't see any farm or ranch names on the menu, then it never hurts to ask! They might be doing the right thing just to do the right thing, and not want to call any attention to it—that’s cool too.

Match Producers to Your Values

When a menu mentions a specific producer’s name, then it’s simple. You can see if that producer matches your values by scanning their website or social media. It’s a big win. A menu might have a farm or ranch’s name next to a certain dish or listed on the back along with others they source from. To really narrow it down, if the name is amongst a list, ask your server which dish features their product. If their name is featured next to a menu item, then you know that that specific item came from that producer. Easy peasy.

If you’re looking at a menu and next to the hamburger it lists the farm or ranch, but next to the skirt steak, it doesn’t—pay attention! Most restaurants don’t source all of their meat from values-based farms and ranches. So that’s your clue that the skirt steak has unknown whereabouts, but the burger can be traced.

Clarify Claims; Ask Questions

A menu might also mention a distinguishing feature of an item, such as a practice or attribute like grassfed or local. This might mean a couple of things…

1. The restaurant uses multiple producers and this varies seasonally, so they don't want to list every single source for the entire year next to one dish.
2. They might also source from an aggregator who does the vetting for them.
3. They aren’t really connected with their producer and are using this as a “hook” to lull you into complacency that what they are doing is justified and true.

This might require your detective hat to hone in on what they are really getting at. Is the grassfed burger 100% grassfed? Is the local pork chop from within state boundaries, or a certain miles radius (this could make a big difference depending on where in the state you are). You can ask your server these questions and they might know it off the top of their heads, or they might need to be reminded by the chef. If they don't know the answer, don’t assume the worst. Go with your gut and start your research when you return home and contact the manager or owner.

Beware of “natural” being an attribute. This word is not monitored by the USDA, so it has no real claim. This is a big fat red light when it comes to transparency. (more on that in another Rumination!)

Find Your Ethical Meat

So now you know what you’re looking for in a menu, let’s get one into your hands! GMP’s Good Meat® Finder is a map where you can search for meat products by species, practices, and certifications. The Finder lists restaurants as well as farms, butcher shops, and retail locations, so use it for your other meat souring as well! It’ll be your best friend when traveling and discovering new restaurants to try. Heck, you might even take a vacation to a place after seeing the business on the Finder first! Once you’ve found your restaurant where you can translate the menu from meaningless jargon to helpful information about your meat, support them! Restaurants like that are far and few between in the greater scheme of the dining industry.

Dining out with a focus on values-based meat doesn’t have to be a hassle—it can be a rewarding adventure! Keep your eyes peeled for farm names, align producers with your values, and don’t hesitate to ask questions about sourcing and practices. Watch out for buzzwords like "natural," as they often lack real meaning. Armed with the Good Meat® Finder, you can effortlessly discover restaurants that prioritize transparency and quality. By supporting these deserving spots, you not only satisfy your cravings but also help push the dining industry in a more ethical direction. So, dig in with confidence and make every meal a statement!