For related articles and more information, please visit OCA’s CAFO’s vs. Free Range page.

On the heels of the announcement that Chipotle is taking tangible steps to be completely GMO-free, they’ve now announced that they’re
going to be serving 100% grass-fed beef nationwide.

Unfortunately, the grass-fed cattle won’t be coming from the United States. According to Chipotle spokesperson Chris Arnold, there simply isn’t a consistent enough supply of grass-fed, antibiotic-free, hormone-free beef in the U.S. to meet the restaurant’s large demand.

In response to this revelation, the
Texas Commissioner of Agriculture took offense and issued a statement lambasting the restaurant chain.

But I thought Chipotle already used grass-fed beef!

Nope.

Until last year, the restaurant chain served antibiotic-free beef, but
the beef was only grass-fed in certain locations where the local supply of grass-fed cattle could meet a restaurant’s demand.

Then, in the wake of a nationwide drought that decimated the U.S. cattle population, Chipotle was forced to start using conventionally raised beef in the summer of 2013 in order to meet customer demand.