Georgia farmers looking for clarity in beef labeling for consumer trust

MACON, Ga. — Georgia lawmakers are calling for increased transparency in beef labeling, particularly for products marketed as "grass-fed," amid concerns that consumers may not be getting what they pay for.

House Agriculture Committee Chair Robert Dickey says shoppers deserve clarity about their meat purchases, especially as grass-fed beef commands premium prices due to perceived health benefits.

"We just want to make sure consumers have truth in labeling on what they buy," Dickey said, announcing plans to introduce legislation requiring better tracking of cattle feeding practices.

The push for reform comes as the grass-fed beef market operates largely without federal oversight. Until 2016, the U.S. Department of Agriculture verified grass-fed labels, but companies now define the term