We’re always open to answering questions
Buying natural meat can be confusing. With all the information out there, sometimes you just want your questions answered, plain and simple. Here are a few FAQs we’ve compiled to help you feel confident in the natural meat choices you’re making for you and your family.
What does "natural" really mean?
Any pork that’s minimally processed with no synthetic or artificial ingredients can be labeled as “natural.” But Open Prairie Natural Pork products take it a step further by using flavoring made with naturally occurring plant components and no allergens. In addition to meeting the standard natural* requirements, Open Prairie Natural Pork products also come from animals raised with these standards:
- No antibiotics — ever
- No added hormones or growth promotants
- 100% vegetarian diet; no animal byproducts, except for milk
- No artificial ingredients
Never Ever means that the hogs are raised with the following requirements:
- No antibiotics — ever
- No added hormones or growth promotants
What does Never Ever really mean?
What do the animals eat?
All animals in the Open Prairie Natural* Meats program are fed a special vegetarian diet. A vegetarian diet provides a healthy balance of nutrients for the welfare of the animals as they grow and provides better flavor as an added benefit for you.
When we talk about a vegetarian diet in hogs, we always include “except for milk.” Why? Because when piglets are weaned from their mothers, they are fed a supplement that includes vitamins and minerals to help them grow. The piglets do best when these supplements are milk-based.
Hormones occur naturally in all animals — including us humans! That said, there are no additional hormones or growth promotants given to the hogs raised for the Open Prairie Natural* Meats brand.
What do you mean when you say, "no added hormones"?
Are the hogs ever given antibiotics?
No, hogs in the Open Prairie Natural* Meats program have never received antibiotics. But each animal’s welfare is our priority, and we ensure animals receive appropriate veterinarian care when they need it.
Along with standard vaccinations and parasite control to keep the animals healthy, veterinarians provide care to any animals that might become sick, sometimes resulting in treatment of a sick animal using antibiotics. If antibiotics are used to treat a sick animal, the animal is separated from the Open Prairie Natural* Meats program and moved to a conventional program where it can recover.
No. The Open Prairie Natural* Meats team is dedicated to bringing better pork to consumers at a reasonable price. To be Certified Organic by the United States Department of Agriculture can be costly . It is also difficult to find consistent suppliers of organic feed. Instead, we focus on supplying you with high-quality pork from hogs raised without antibiotics and added hormones or growth promotants.
Is your product certified organic?
Is your meat non-GMO?
The hogs raised for the Open Prairie brand are not genetically modified. Open Prairie Natural* Meats are not, however, labeled as non-GMO because feed used for the animals may contain GMO crops. Independent studies have shown that there is no difference in how GMO and non-GMO foods affect the health, safety, or welfare of animals. These studies also show that the DNA in the GMO food does not transfer to the animal that eats it and the animals that eat GMO food do not turn into GMOs. Similarly, the DNA from GMO animal food does not make it into the meat, eggs, or milk from the animal. As a result, Open Prairie Natural Meats remain high in nutritional value, safety, and quality.
Yes! While the hogs may have been fed grains that contain gluten or soy, their digestive systems take care of that. You’re left with meat that has no traces of gluten or soy whatsoever.
Is your meat gluten-free?
What does "minimally processed" mean?
For the Open Prairie brand, minimally processed means that our pork has not been altered in any material way. That means no solution enhancers, added flavors or added salt — just wholesome and delicious pork.
No — simply because hogs need protection from predators and extreme temperatures. Since hogs have very little hair and no sweat glands, they’re sensitive to both heat and cold. That’s why hogs in the Open Prairie Natural* Pork program are kept in climate-controlled barns where they get just the right amount of food, veterinarian care and attention.
Do the hogs live on an open pasture?
What does "natural" really mean?
Any pork that’s minimally processed with no artificial ingredients can be labeled as “natural.” But Open Prairie Natural* Pork products take it a step further. In addition to meeting the standard natural requirements, they also meet these standards:
- No antibiotics — ever
- No added hormones or growth promotants
- 100% vegetarian diet; no animal byproducts, except for milk
- No artificial ingredients
What does Never Ever really mean?
Never Ever means that the hogs are raised with the following requirements:
- No antibiotics — ever
- No added hormones or growth promotants
What do the animals eat?
All animals in the Open Prairie Natural* Meats program are fed a special vegetarian diet. A vegetarian diet provides a healthy balance of nutrients for the welfare of the animals as they grow and provides better flavor as an added benefit for you.
When we talk about a vegetarian diet in hogs, we always include “except for milk.” Why? Because when piglets are weaned from their mothers, they are fed a supplement that includes vitamins and minerals to help them grow. The piglets do best when these supplements are milk-based.
What do you mean when you say, "no added hormones"?
Hormones occur naturally in all animals — including us humans! That said, there are no additional hormones or growth promotants given to the hogs or cattle raised for the Open Prairie Natural* Meats brand.
Are the hogs ever given antibiotics?
No, hogs in the Open Prairie Natural* Meats program have never received antibiotics. But each animal’s welfare is our priority, and we ensure animals receive appropriate veterinarian care when they need it.
Along with standard vaccinations and parasite control to keep the animals healthy, veterinarians provide care to any animals that might become sick, sometimes resulting in treatment of a sick animal using antibiotics. If antibiotics are used to treat a sick animal, the animal is separated from the Open Prairie Natural* Meats program and moved to a conventional program where it can recover.
Is your product certified organic?
No. The Open Prairie Natural* Meats team is dedicated to bringing better pork and beef to consumers at a reasonable price. To be Certified Organic by the United States Department of Agriculture can be costly . It is also difficult to find consistent suppliers of organic feed. Instead, we focus on supplying you with high-quality pork from hogs raised without antibiotics and added hormones or growth promotants.
Is your meat non-GMO?
The hogs raised for the Open Prairie brand are not genetically modified. Open Prairie Natural* Meats are not, however, labeled as non-GMO because feed used for the animals may contain GMO crops. Independent studies have shown that there is no difference in how GMO and non-GMO foods affect the health, safety, or welfare of animals. These studies also show that the DNA in the GMO food does not transfer to the animal that eats it and the animals that eat GMO food do not turn into GMOs. Similarly, the DNA from GMO animal food does not make it into the meat, eggs, or milk from the animal. As a result, Open Prairie Natural* Meats remain high in nutritional value, safety, and quality.
Is your meat gluten-free?
Yes! While the hogs may have been fed grains that contain gluten or soy, their digestive systems take care of that. You’re left with meat that has no traces of gluten or soy whatsoever.
What doe "minimally processed" mean?
For the Open Prairie brand, minimally processed means that our pork and beef have not been altered in any material way. That means no solution enhancers, added flavors or added salt — just wholesome and delicious pork.
Do the hogs live in an open pasture?
No — simply because hogs need protection from predators and extreme temperatures. Since hogs have very little hair and no sweat glands, they’re sensitive to both heat and cold. That’s why hogs in the Open Prairie Natural* Pork program are kept in climate-controlled barns where they get just the right amount of food, veterinarian care and attention.