All natural definition

[BigTone]

Hey folks, I'm looking to sell my current 15 meat birds to pay for my personal 15 meat birds free and clear. I feed them mash ground down the road, no commercial feed, and they get to free range grass/bugs, clean water, no antibiotics/steroids/hormones. I'm not sure if the mash is GMO free, can I call them "All Natural/Naturally raised" if the mash is not GMO free? Thanks, Anthony

 

[chooks4life]

Hey folks, I'm looking to sell my current 15 meat birds to pay for my personal 15 meat birds free and clear. I feed them mash ground down the road, no commercial feed, and they get to free range grass/bugs, clean water, no antibiotics/steroids/hormones. I'm not sure if the mash is GMO free, can I call them "All Natural/Naturally raised" if the mash is not GMO free? Thanks, Anthony

Technically, everything on earth is 'natural' as it's all based on natural things no matter how adulterated and synthesized it's become. Plastic is thereby 'natural'. Big companies are exploiting this technical loophole left right and center.

I don't know what the regulations are where you are, you should check into that, but as a common decency/ethics issue I would not label them as 'all natural' if you are not sure if GMOs have been fed to them as GMOs require labs to create, not just simple breeding as is natural. You can certainly point out their good qualities --- 'no hormones' and 'no antibiotics' and 'free range' are basically all you need to inspire some consumer interest.

Best wishes.

 

[BigTone]

Thanks for the reply, the USDA basically says no hormone, steroids, antibiotics, and minimal processing are required for natural, very loose terms if you ask me much like you mentioned. The GMO free mash is $7.50 a 100lbs more expensive, I guess i'll have to see how this plays out. Thanks for the help, anthony

 

[chooks4life]

It's all down to what you feel comfortable with I guess. Technicalities aside, those who are very anti-GMO generally know to look for a no-GMO claim, so it's not like you'd be being dishonest by using the term 'natural' at all.

Best wishes.