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| This week's sales flier from ShopRite. |
By VICTOR E. SASSON
EDITOR
For years, ShopRite supermarkets have been offering free-range, grass-fed beef from Australia under the Nature's Reserve label -- at a lower price than U.S. beef raised on antibiotics and growth hormones.
Now, ShopRite has introduced organic beef from Australia that is a cut above Nature's Reserve.
This week's sales flier says Clayton's Organic Beef is "raised exclusively for ShopRite."
The organic product is available in a bottom round roast, London broil and 85% lean ground beef for $5.99 a pound to $6.99 a pound with a store card.
The beef, from Australia's oldest Certified Organic Farm, is "leaner than conventional beef, with less fat, cholesterol and calories," according to ShopRite.
"The beef, from Australia's oldest Certified Organic Farm, is "leaner than conventional beef, with less fat, cholesterol and calories," according to ShopRite"
ReplyDeleteWhat fun is that?
Guess you'd miss your usual heart attack on a plate.
ReplyDeleteGive me a Whopper from Burger King any day ... It has lettuce, tomato, all the major food groups except dessert, although I'm not sure which food group those little slices of pickle fall into. Or a bucket of KFC, certified by a Colonel Sanders lookalike.
Deleteis this a regular thing or was it a one time thing? I have to check the shoprites by me but I never saw this stuff at my shoprites...
ReplyDeletei just saw this for the first time in a circular/on their front page. I can never find anything there like that so this is huge for me!!
ReplyDeleteThe organic beef also goes on sale once in a while.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately this beef is grain-fed so it is not as good as the grass-fed beef previously offered.
ReplyDeleteHere is correspondance from the company:
DeleteThe following is information regarding our Nature’s Reserve Beef:
WHAT IS NATURE'S RESERVE GRASS FED BEEF?
Nature's Reserve Beef is a product of its’ environment. Queensland Australia's vast pastures, clean rainfall, abundant sunshine and free range conditions produce the world's finest all-natural free range beef.
Nature's Reserve, predominantly Angus and Hereford, is selected for its superior meat quality. The cattle graze freely on sustainable family farms feeding only on GMO Free alfalfa and rye grasses eliminating the risk of mad cow disease. Nature’s Reserve cattle are 100% grass fed. These high protein grasses are converted to soft textured muscle rather than fat.
Nature's Reserve Beef is processed under HACCP, AUSMEAT, and AQIS guidelines that are regularly audited and approved by USDA and again inspected by USDA upon arrival in the US.
Nature's Reserve Beef is hormone and antibiotic free.
Nature's Reserve Beef contains no artificial ingredients or additives, is a healthy alternative to domestic beef; has reduced calories, fat and cholesterol content and is a valuable source of protein, minerals and essential B group vitamins.
Nature's Reserve farmers and packers follow simple but thoughtful practices in raising cattle humanely (stress-free) from the farm to the table.
Nature’s Reserve Beef is not irradiated and we do not use cloned animals nor do we have any plans to use any in the future.
Since Nature's Reserve Beef contains less fat than American Beef it will cook quicker.
If at all possible use a meat thermometer and serve at medium rare.
Our Clayton’s Beef is 100% organic. Please let me know if you have any additional questions.
The only issue I have is it does not taste as good it's a dry unfavorable meat.
DeleteMaybe you cook it too long. The meat eaters in my family enjoy it.
DeleteIt's grass-fed as well, according to the label shown in the photo above. ShopRite still offers Nature's Reserve grass-fed beef, but I think there have been changes in the use of antibiotics to raise those animals. Clayton's uses organic grass and organic sorghum, and if the rules are the same in Australia as they are here, the sorghum has to be non-GMO, an added benefit. I buy both Clayton's and Nature's Reserve when they are on sale.
ReplyDeletei used to buy Natures Reserve beef at my local Shop Rite but they dont seem to have it anymore. Anyone know where i can get it?
ReplyDeleteI still see it at North Jersey ShopRites, but it isn't always on sale. I also see it in the sales circular that comes with the paper.
DeleteHas anyone questioned how this beef can last so long? Seriously the expiration dates are strangely lengthy! Makes me wonder why other companies aren't doing this if it's so good....
ReplyDeleteI don't understand your question. I don't recall see expiration dates.
DeleteIn any case, the meat is dead, and sealed in plastic. As long as it is refrigerated and unopened, it can stay fresh a long time.
Grassfed beef (and pastured poultry, etc) is known to last much longer than conventional meat b/c of how it is handled from slaughter. Added bonus.
DeleteThanks. See comment below.
DeleteThe reason it lasts so long is that the slaughtering methods in Australia are exceptionally hygienic. Even after shipment to the U.S. the vacuum packed Aussie beef lasts longer than American beef. BTW, I raise grass fed beef in Australia.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment. I would like to discuss with you the raising of beef in Australia. Can you supply an email address? Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Matthew. There was something off about the meat the last few times I purchased it.. It doesn't taste fresh after cooking yet it's bright red out of the packaging.. Something is def fishy here regarding the shelflife and strange origin (Australia?? Why is that even necessary? Not enough quality livestock nearby?) I def will stick to the non descript butcher cuts.
ReplyDeleteUnless you can find a truly organic local farm nearby which is what I'd prefer... beef here in the US is mass produced for profit and is loaded up with hormones, antibiotics, steroids, and usually fed GMO grain. You may even be eating a cloned animal. Ugh NO THANKS. Australia has some of the cleanest and largest cattle sources and many organic, grassfed meats are sourced from Australia OR out in the Western USA. Your nondescript butcher cuts are usually coming from unhealthy animals raised on GMO grain and chemical laden diets. Disease central.
DeleteGuess what? Some Australian producers, such as those under the Nature's Reserve label, are using a small amount of antibiotics to raise beef.
DeleteI've been buying Clayton ground beef at Shop-Rite for several yrs now, at least one-pack per week and we love it. It's the best ground beef I've have ever had.
ReplyDeleteBut, the past 2 months I've noticed the Clayton Beef ground beef is not as lean as usual and I don't blame Clayton. Upon closer inspection I've noticed that it appears that Shop-Rite (Bricktown - Rt 70) is re-packing the date-stamped vacuum-sealed Clayton ground meat and adding filler if the meat is near the expiration date. I think maybe they are adding fresh ground beef of low quality.
All I know is that it looks like the packages are being tampered with and resealed by the Butcher Dept, at least at this particular Shop-Rite.
The fat content is listed on the Clayton label.
DeleteIf the ShopRite is repackaging it, I'd call consumer officials at the county level, possibly the weights and measures office.
Clayton is organic beef. Are the fillers organic and non-GMO, too?
Does anyone know if the grain/corn finish is non-gmo? Someone noted above that the Sorghum was non gmo due to the countries requirements, but what about the corn. I checked Clayton's website and it does not specifically state non-gmo so I am always suspect if it does not specifically state this. Might just be a not getting around to updating labels, but would love to know for sure.
ReplyDeleteThe Clayton's ad specifies "organic grass and organic sorghum." All organic foods are non-GMO.
DeleteAlso, the previous anonymous comment that ShopRite in Bricktown, N.J., is opening Clayton's packages and adding filler sounds implausible.
Thanks for the reply, but so confused. I have read that just because the label states organic, does not mean they did not have GMO's in their food supply. It seems like a lot of companies play games with the labeling. Any accurate place to find info that you can recommend, as I find conflicting info and am getting very confused. I just want good, clean food and confidence in what I am buying. Thanks!
DeleteOh and I was not the anonymous comment above regarding the ShopRite in Bricktown, just can't remember by google login lol
DeleteEverything I've read, especially in Consumer Reports, has said consistently organic also means non-GMO.
DeleteHere is the comment about Clayton's Organic Beef at ShopRite in Bricktown:
"I've been buying Clayton ground beef at Shop-Rite for several yrs now, at least one-pack per week and we love it. It's the best ground beef I've have ever had.
But, the past 2 months I've noticed the Clayton Beef ground beef is not as lean as usual and I don't blame Clayton. Upon closer inspection I've noticed that it appears that Shop-Rite (Bricktown - Rt 70) is re-packing the date-stamped vacuum-sealed Clayton ground meat and adding filler if the meat is near the expiration date. I think maybe they are adding fresh ground beef of low quality.
All I know is that it looks like the packages are being tampered with and resealed by the Butcher Dept, at least at this particular Shop-Rite."
I was skeptical, but then received the comment below.
DeleteBy the way corn is not part of a cow's diet my grandfather had a farm and I never fed cows corn always some kind of grass
DeleteI read the above post and agree the Clayton ground beef at the RT 70 Brick Town Shop-Rite does not taste the same as the the Clayton ground beef purchased at other Shop-Rite stores. Their steaks taste the same, they are consistent and don't vary from store to store, but imo, not the ground beef.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't taste as fresh and doesn't have the WOW factor even though the expiration date is almost one month out. IMO, something's not right.
Maybe a SR Representative could investigate by comparing the ground beef from several different stores (visually inspect and compare & cook and taste test it) and see for themselves without informing the meat dept management or employees.
Then you should definitely contact Wakefern, the parent company of ShopRite, in Edison, N.J. Google Wakern for the phone number.
DeleteAnd what about contacting Clayton via a Web site?
I had been purchasing the Natures Reserve beef for a few months. Now I notice that there have been chewy pieces like either sinew or small blood vessels ground with the meat. I expected ground beef, not other identifiable things along with it. Not getting this brand ever again. Rather purchase Claytonsorganic any day. After I get the freezers cleaned out will find someone local and purchase 200-300 lbs. as long as it is shrink wrapped it last quite a long time.
ReplyDeleteOK, thanks. Can't imagine why you would want to buy so much beef at one time. Could be your end.
DeleteSame thing happened to me, i tried natures reserve ground beef there were several pieces hard to chew that visibly looked like cartilage. I will be switching brands to claytons.
DeleteOK, thanks.
DeleteThe shop rite near me just started carrying this brand the ground beef is one of the best I have tasted and even the look of it good . Definitely will buy again
ReplyDeleteThat's great. Thanks.
DeleteFYI for those with a nearby PriceRite (a discount grocer also owned by Wakefern Food Corporation), PriceRite also sells Nature's Reserve beef, oftentimes offering different cuts (or cheaper prices) than those sold at ShopRite (e.g., Sirloin Tip Roast for $3.99/lb for 5+ lb. shrink-wrapped packages). The shelf labels are (intentionally?) inconspicuous, abbreviating "Nature's Reserve" to simply "NR" and leaving you to look for the "Product of Australia" labels on the product itself. The lamb products usually have the Nature's Reserve seal on the package itself, though. Either way, I thought those reading this might want to know!
ReplyDeleteGreat tip, Ian. Thanks.
DeleteFor those of you who live in North Jersey, there is a Price Rite in Garfield (59 Outwater Lane, Garfield, N.J.)
DeleteI would like to get organic bones for bone broth. Do you know if there are any bones from the supplier available?
ReplyDeleteYes. Whole Foods Market in Paramus, N.J., usually has them in the freezer case near the meat department. Ask the butchers. If you don't live in New Jersey, try any Whole Foods Market.
Delete