Organic Prairie Frequently Asked Questions

Organic Prairie® Uncured Pepperoni

What makes Organic Prairie's Uncured Pepperoni organic?

Spicy, delicious, and nutritious Organic Prairie Uncured Pepperoni is made from organic beef and pork that is humanely produced by cooperative family farmers working in harmony with nature.

• The USDA organic standards are the strictest food production standards in the world. Certified organic farms are required to follow the USDA's National Organic Standards www.ams.usda.gov/nop, and are annually inspected by an independent third party.
• Organic Prairie farmers never use antibiotics, synthetic hormones, or synthetic pesticides in production. For beef cattle and hogs, this is from the last third of gestation.
• During their entire lives organic cattle and hogs receive only 100% certified organic feed and pasture, never rendered animal by-products. Organic grass-fed cattle receive only 100% certified organic pasture, never stored forage, grain, or rendered animal by-products.
• Certified feed and pasture are grown on land not treated with synthetic fertilizers or pesticides for a minimum of three years.
• Pasturing of cattle provides better quality of life for the animal, superior animal health, and greater nutritive value in food derived from the animal.
• Organic hogs and are never confined and have regular access to the outdoors. They are bedded in organic straw with plenty of room to move around and express the natural behaviors of hogs.
• Organic animals must not be genetically modified and cannot be fed food from genetically modified sources.
• All spices and ingredients used are certified organic whenever possible by the USDA's National Organic Program.

Is organic meat safe?

Organic meat is the safest choice because it comes from healthy animals raised on healthy land.

• The USDA organic standards set forth regularly audited practices leading to superior health and living conditions of organic animals, a primary component in food safety.
• All Organic Prairie meats are processed at federally inspected plants which are certified for organic production by a third party organic certifier accredited by the National Organic Program of the USDA.
• We visit and audit all plants regularly to ensure they meet our strict quality standards, and in addition, each plant undergoes a third party audit for Good Manufacturing Processes to ensure a safe processing environment.
• Each lot of our product undergoes rigorous microbial testing far beyond that required by the USDA before shipping to ensure it meets our own quality standards.
• Each unit of organic meat is traceable back to a lot. Each lot is traceable back to the farm of origin, and the Farm Plan required by the National Organic Program allows the specific animals included in the lot to be identified and traced back to birth.

What are the health benefits of eating Organic Prairie's Uncured Pepperoni?

• Organic Prairie Uncured Pepperoni is produced without synthetic nitrates or nitrites.
• Beef is an excellent source of protein produced without added potentially harmful chemicals, and a good source of iron, zinc, selenium, and B vitamins.
• People who eat beef regularly are more likely to meet 100% of the RDA for protein, iron, zinc, and B-vitamins. (USDA CSFII 1994-96 ).
• Stearic acid, a unique saturated fatty acid, is found in beef. Research in humans and animals suggests it has either a neutral or cholesterol-lowering effect, in contrast to other saturated fatty acids found in meat.
• The greater the percentage of cattle's diet that comes from grass, the more optimal the ratio of Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids in the beef. Organic grass-fed beef generally has a ratio of 2:1, in contrast to primarily grain-fed beef, which can be as high as 20:1.
• Organic pork is an excellent source of high density protein produced without added potentially harmful chemicals.
• Pork provides six essential vitamins: Thiamin, 65% RDA, Riboflavin, 22% RDA, Niacin, 47% RDA, Vitamin B6, 24% RDA, Vitamin B12, 38% RDA, and Pantothenate, 10% RDA, and four important minerals: Phosphorous, 22% RDA, Magnesium, 10% RDA, Iron, 9% RDA, and Zinc, 36% RDA.

For more information on the benefits of eating organic beef, see the Health & Nutrition Links in the Resource section at www.organicvalley.coop.

What varieties of Organic Prairie Uncured Pepperoni are available?

Fresh

• Deli Sliced Uncured Pepperoni, 5 oz. pouch

Foodservice

• Uncured Pepperoni Slices, 256:1, Frozen, 2/5 lb. (random weight)
• Uncured Pepperoni Stick, Fresh, 20/2.5 lb. (random weight)

What are good uses for Organic Prairie Uncured Pepperoni?

Mouth watering Organic Prairie Uncured Pepperoni makes a good pizza great, and is a tasty addition to sub sandwiches and savory casseroles.

Why is our Pepperoni described as "uncured?"

USDA's definition of "cured" meats are those to which synthetic nitrates and nitrites have been added in the form of sodium nitrite and sodium nitrate. When those synthetic nitrates land nitrites are not used, the meat must be labeled "uncured."

Organic Prairie Uncured Pepperoni is "cured," but with a curing process that uses the nitrates naturally present in celery juice powder, a lactic acid starter culture, and salt. The naturally occurring nitrates in the celery juice are converted to nitrites through a lactic acid fermentation process.

Nitrites, naturally occurring or synthetic, serve a vital public health function of blocking the growth of dangerous bacteria in processed meats, and give "cured" meats their characteristic color and flavor.

What is the difference between "organic" and "natural" meat?

It is a common misconception that "natural" meat is the same thing as "organic" meat. This is not the case. Significant differences exist between the three. Certified organic farms are required to follow strict standards from the USDA's National Organic Standards and are inspected by an independent third party each year for compliance. The organic certification process is the guarantee to consumers these rules are being followed. There are no such standards or inspections for natural or conventional meats.

We care for the earth while bringing you the highest quality food

Organic Prairie® Uncured Pepperoni

What makes Organic Prairie's Uncured Pepperoni organic?

Healthful, wholesome, and humanely raised Organic Prairie Uncured Pepperoni is made from organic beef and pork produced by cooperative family farmers working in harmony with nature.

• Our farmer-owned cooperative has been producing organic meats since 1997, according to practices that meet and often exceed USDA's National Organic Standards www.ams.usda.gov/nop, giving us confidence in saying we represent the gold-standard in organic meat production.
• Our certified organic farms are annually inspected by independent third party agencies.
• Organic Prairie farmers never use antibiotics, or synthetic hormones or pesticides in production. For beef cattle and hogs, this is from the last third of gestation.
• Organic Prairie beef production is pasture-based, and our cattle and hogs receive only 100% certified organic feed, never rendered animal by-products.
• Our certified feed and pasture are grown on land not treated with synthetic fertilizers or pesticides for a minimum of three years.
• Pasturing our cattle provides better quality of life for the animal, superior animal health, greater nutritive value in food derived from the animal, and enriches the soil from which the most nutritious pasture and forage is grown.
• Organic Prairie hogs are never confined and have regular access to the outdoors. They are bedded in organic straw with plenty of room to move around and express the natural behaviors of hogs.
• We prohibit the use of cloned livestock in our herds. Our animals are fed only certified organic feed and no genetically modified organisms.
• All spices and ingredients used are approved for organic processing by the USDA's National Organic Program and certified organic whenever possible.

Is organic meat safe?

Organic meat is the safest choice because it comes from healthy animals raised on healthy land.

• Our regularly audited practices lead to superior health and living conditions for our organic cattle and hogs, a primary component in food safety.
• All Organic Prairie meats are processed at federally inspected plants which are certified for organic production by a third party organic certifier accredited by the National Organic Program of the USDA.
• We visit and audit all plants regularly to ensure they meet our strict quality standards, and in addition, each plant undergoes an annual third party audit for Animal Welfare and Good Manufacturing Processes to ensure a safe and humane processing environment.
• Each lot of our product undergoes rigorous microbial testing far beyond that required by the USDA before shipping to ensure it meets our own quality standards.
• Each unit of organic meat is traceable back to a lot. Each lot is traceable back to the farms of origin, and the Farm Plan required by the National Organic Program allows the specific animals included in the lot to be identified and traced back to birth.

What are the health benefits of eating Organic Prairie's Uncured Pepperoni?

• Eating Organic Prairie Uncured Pepperoni is an excellent way to minimize risk of exposure to antibiotics, synthetic pesticides or hormones, as well as the harmful bacteria that are more likely to be found in meat produced in confined animal feeding operations (CAFO's).
• Beef is an excellent source of protein and a good source of iron, zinc, selenium, and B vitamins.
• People who eat beef regularly are more likely to meet 100% of the RDA for protein, iron, zinc, and B-vitamins. (USDA CSFII 1994-96 ).
• Stearic acid, a unique saturated fatty acid, is found in beef. Research in humans and animals suggests it has either a neutral or cholesterol-lowering effect, in contrast to other saturated fatty acids found in meat.
• The greater the percentage of cattle's diet that comes from grass, the more optimal the ratio of Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids in the beef. Organic grass-fed beef generally has a ratio of 2:1, in contrast to primarily grain-fed beef, which can be as high as 20:1.
• Organic pork is an excellent source of high density protein, and provides six essential vitamins: Thiamin, 65% RDA, Riboflavin, 22% RDA, Niacin, 47% RDA, Vitamin B6, 24% RDA, Vitamin B12, 38% RDA, and Pantothenate, 10% RDA, and four important minerals: Phosphorous, 22% RDA, Magnesium, 10% RDA, Iron, 9% RDA, and Zinc, 36% RDA.

For more information on the benefits of eating organic beef, see the Health & Nutrition Links in the Resource section at www.organicvalley.coop.

How does Organic Prairie manage animal health?

The foundation of Organic Prairie's organic livestock production is maintaining strong, healthy animals with low stress and robust immune systems. Our cattle and hogs are raised and our meats are produced without use of antibiotics, and synthetic hormones or pesticides. Our farmers practice preventative medicine and natural remedies so that antibiotics and hormones are not needed in the first place. Further, we have within our cooperative some of the nation's foremost experts in holistic animal husbandry, and traditional and organic veterinary medicine, who we offer to our farmer members as a resource.

What are good uses for Organic Prairie Uncured Pepperoni?

Mouth watering Organic Prairie Uncured Pepperoni makes a good pizza great, and is a tasty addition to sub sandwiches and savory casseroles.

What varieties of Organic Prairie Uncured Pepperoni are available?

Fresh

• Deli Sliced Uncured Pepperoni, 5 oz. pouch

Foodservice

• Uncured Pepperoni Slices, 256:1, Frozen, 2/5 lb. (random weight)
• Uncured Pepperoni Stick, Fresh, 20/2.5 lb. (random weight)

Why is our Pepperoni described as "uncured?"

USDA's definition of "cured" meats are those to which synthetic nitrates and nitrites have been added in the form of sodium nitrite and sodium nitrate. When those synthetic nitrates land nitrites are not used, the meat must be labeled "uncured."

Organic Prairie Uncured Pepperoni is "cured," but with a curing process that uses the nitrates naturally present in celery juice powder, a lactic acid starter culture, and salt. The naturally occurring nitrates in the celery juice are converted to nitrites through a lactic acid fermentation process.

Nitrites, naturally occurring or synthetic, serve a vital public health function of blocking the growth of dangerous bacteria in processed meats, and give "cured" meats their characteristic color and flavor.

What is the difference between "organic" and "natural" meat?

It is a common misconception that "natural" meat is the same thing as "organic" meat. This is not the case. Significant differences exist between the three. Certified organic farms are required to follow strict standards from the USDA's National Organic Standards and are inspected by independent third party agencies for compliance. The organic certification process is the guarantee to consumers these rules are being followed. Additionally, our cooperative inspects the farms of our members for compliance with our pasturing requirements which exceed USDA standards.

We care for the earth while bringing you the highest quality food