Here’s the weekly roundup from Watson Farms and your direct connection to your farmer. Enjoy the latest edition of Pasture Posts!
The “Safety Gap” in Industrial Beef
Howdy from the Farm!
This week on the farm, we’ve been talking a lot about the “invisible” side of food safety. While we spend our days moving fences and checking water troughs, there is a complex biological world happening inside our cattle that directly impacts the safety of the meat on your dinner table.
I wanted to share some fascinating insights that our Farm Store Manager, Melody LeViner, shared on social media earlier this week. It perfectly highlights why our commitment to 100% grass-fed and grass-finished beef isn’t just about better flavor—it’s about a fundamentally different safety profile.
Understanding the “Safety Gap”
Cattle are natural grazers, designed to thrive on forage. In the industrial food system, cattle are switched to a heavy grain-based diet to speed up growth. This changes their internal chemistry, creating what we call the Safety Gap.
The Grain Effect
In a grain-fed system, the starch ferments quickly, causing a major Acidity Spike in the cow’s rumen (stomach).
- The “Training Ground”: Most bacteria die in high-acid environments. However, E. coli is incredibly adaptable. In an acidic gut, E. coli “trains” to become acid-resistant.
- The Gap: When these “tough” bacteria enter the human food chain, they are already primed to survive the high acidity of the human stomach. Because they aren’t killed off by our natural digestive defenses, the risk of infection is much higher.
The Grass-Fed Difference
Cattle fed primarily on hay or grass maintain a more neutral pH in their digestive tract. Because their gut environment isn’t an “acid bath,” any E. coli present doesn’t develop that dangerous acid resistance.
The Result: The bacteria from a grass-fed ruminant animal are much more likely to be neutralized by your own body’s natural defenses. That is the Safety Gap—and grass-fed beef puts the odds back in your favor.
Industrial Systems Are More Likely to Have Industrial-Sized Recalls
We don’t just look at the biology; we look at the results. When you look at the national beef recalls over the past 10 years, the vulnerability of the industrial system becomes clear.
While the official “pounds recalled” number for 2025 was low at 2,855 pounds, that number excludes several massive Public Health Alerts. For example, in June 2025, a nationwide alert was issued for organic ground beef sold at Whole Foods. Because the product was already past its “use-by” date, the USDA didn’t count it in the formal “recalled poundage” statistics—even though the risk to consumers was just as high.
Our Promise: Defeating the “Numbers Game”
At Watson Farms, safety isn’t just about the diet; it’s about the scale.
Industrial recalls often involve hundreds of thousands of pounds because massive regional hubs mix meat from hundreds of different animals into a single batch. This creates a dangerous “numbers game.” If just one grain-fed animal has acid-resistant E. coli, it contaminates the entire industrial run.
We choose a different path:
- Small-Batch Processing: We use smaller, family-owned processing plants. By keeping batches small and separate, we eliminate the risk of one animal contaminating a massive supply chain.
- Transparent Chain of Custody: We know exactly which animals are in which batch. There is no “mixing with the masses.”
- 100% Grass-Finished: We never take the shortcut of grain-finishing, ensuring the “Safety Gap” remains closed for your family.
Stock Up with the Pasture Pair Bundle
If you want to take the guesswork out of the grocery store and fill your freezer with beef you can trust, we’ve made it easier than ever.
We recently launched our Pasture Pair Bundle—it’s the perfect way to get a steady supply of our 100% grass-fed beef alongside our pastured poultry. It’s designed for families who want to bridge the “Safety Gap” and enjoy the peace of mind that comes from knowing your farmers and their methods.
Thank you for trusting us with your family’s table.
Stay Healthy,
Matt Watson and the Watson Farms Team
Ready to secure your supply of wholesome, small-batch meats?
Check out this ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review from Debra:
“So glad to find Watson Farms locally. I am beyond pleased with the meat…! I have tried several farm meat delivery services and find myself wondering why the taste and quality seems to be no better than mass produced grocery store product. Then I found Watson Farms and the difference is obvious and amazing! The two steaks I ordered were the freshest, most tender steaks I’ve had in a very long time…! Also, the chicken is very tender and juicy. Difference is like night and day! I’m signed up for a subscription box! I highly recommend 👍!”
We would greatly appreciate it if you would be kind enough to leave us a review. It helps first-time customers purchase with confidence.
Shipping Timeline and Store Hours
UPS Orders (all orders ship with insulation and dry ice):
UPS orders normally ship out on Mondays – Wednesdays.
Tracking: As usual, you will receive an automated email with a tracking link as soon as your order leaves the farm.
Farm Pickup (Always Free!):
If you are local, Farm Pickup is often the fastest way to get your products. Please wait until you receive an email stating that your order is Ready for Pickup (typically 1 business day after your order is placed) before heading over.
Farm Store & Pickup Hours:
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 10:00am – 6:00pm
- Saturday: 10:00am – 2:00pm
- Wednesday & Sunday: Closed
Farm Store Address: 713 Colony Road, Chester, SC 29706
Tell a Friend!
It’s now easier than ever to Give $15 and Get $15 through our Referral Program. We don’t spend a lot of money of advertising, but rather we focus on producing products that people love and are willing to tell others about. So we depend on word of mouth to find new customers and ultimately to heal more land.
So in an effort to streamline this process we have made it easier to tell others (via email, Facebook, or Twitter) about Watson Farms. And it’s all automated on the backend, so you don’t have to rely on us to issue the store credits manually. Just head over to our Referrals Page and start sharing!
