FAQs
Below are 6 sections with questions and answers in an open and close accordion widget. To hear an answer, you will need to treat each question as a link and enter the question."
Section 1 About US Wellness Meats
Where are your farms located?
Answer Our four founding cattle farms are located in the northeast corner of Missouri and western Illinois, alongside the Mississippi River. The Wood farm is near Canton, Missouri; the Leeser Farm is in Taylor, Missouri; the Suter farm is near Wyaconda, Missouri; and the Crum farm is near Virginia, Illinois. A few other small partner farms throughout the US supply us with cattle throughout the year. Approximately 85% of our beef is sourced domestically. In order to meet demand for certain cuts, we’ve partnered with Our other products come from our co-operative of family farms around the country. To learn more about each of the family farm providers, please click here. And here is a link to more information on our partner farms.
Are you certified organic? Why not?
Answer All US Wellness Meats cattle pastures and animals have been maintained with organic principles in mind since 2000. Unfortunately, the state of Missouri dropped a state-run organic-certification program and turned it over to a private certifier several years ago. The private certifier wanted 3% of the gross income of the preceding year to maintain the license. We politely said no, and felt if Thomas Jefferson were still alive he would concur. Sadly, greed has infiltrated a noble cause. 50% of the Missouri organic producers have let their certification lapse since this situation was created by the Missouri legislature.
Does US Wellness Meats adhere to sustainable farming practices?
Answer Yes. With a 30 to 45-day rest period between grazing, we increase the density of existing plants in ourcattle pastures and allow for the re-introduction of new native plants. As a result, all of our grassland is deeply rooted, and this better root structure and thicker sod enables the landscape to catch and hold nearly all of the rain that hits it, resulting in virtually no soil erosion or flooding. Finally, this sustainable eco-system is a natural carbon recycler: the carbon our animals produce is reused by our plant life for further growth.
Do you offer wholesale or affiliate programs?
Answer Yes, we offer both. As an affiliate, you can earn commissions based off sales from your website. As a wholesale customer, you can save by buying in bulk. For more information on both programs, visit our website.
Section 2 About Our Meat
Do you feed antibiotics or hormones?
Answer No, none of our animals are fed antibiotics or growth hormones throughout the course of their lives.
Are the cattle finished with grain?
Answer Never. From the moment our animals are weaned from their mothers, they consume high quality forage for the rest of their lives. Not only is grain-finish counter to the values of grass-fed farming, but a change to a starchy grain diet can undo omega 6:3 ratios and CLA values in 30 days.
What do cattle eat in the winter?
Answer The onset of winter doesn’t mean the end of grazing for our animals—there is still stock-piled forage that they consume until it is harvested or snow is an issue. When snow makes grazing impossible, we feed our animals our own hay, which is pasture grass that is harvested and stored when dry. Baleage, fresh pasture grass that is cut at optimal freshness, stored and vacuum packaged while moist, allows for nearly green grass in January. During harsh weather, we supplement with a starch-free grass plant protein for added energy and protein. We never use grain (starch) as it will ruin excellent lipid chemistry.
Where are the cattle harvested? Is it humane?
Answer The animals are tended as humanely as possible up to point of slaughter to minimize stress. The process is done as quickly as possible to eliminate animal trauma or suffering. And we are sticklers about cleanliness: We demand a steam-cleaned facility for the slaughter process in order to eliminate all risk of cross contamination with grain-fed animals, and we are committed to a strict adhere to the USDA’s Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) standards. In over a decade with our current abattoir, we have yet to see any evidence of adrenaline-rush damage (an immediate stress indicator) in the meat tissue after slaughter. And in keeping with our tradition of supporting outstanding family businesses, our facility is family-owned with six members of the same family involved in overseeing daily operations.
Are your meats aged?
Answer
- Beef is aged. Aging is critical to a tender, flavorful beef product. Meat is cut into sub-primal cuts and aged for an average of 30 days before it is cut into retail portions. Wet aging allows for the breakdown of collagen, essential to infusing fat through the meat. In order to ensure freshness, wet aging is done in a vacuum package to improve meat safety.
- Fats (tallow, lard, and duck fat) are not aged, but rather the fat is frozen and rendered as needed.
- Organ meats are not aged; organ meats are delicate, and need to packaged quickly after harvest.
- Pork is not aged, but it is chilled ~5 days prior to fabrication.
- Bison The majority of our Bison is not aged since it is so lean to begin with and intramuscular fat is needed to age meats; Bison hangs for ~48 hours to chill the carcass prior to fabrication. The Bison Ribeye Steak & Bison Top Sirloin Steak are aged for 21 days for added tenderness and flavor.
- Lamb, Goat, Elk, and Venison is not aged; it is chilled for ~48 hours prior to fabrication.
- Chicken, Duck, Turkey, and Rabbit is not aged; it is frozen after harvest and fabrication.
- Seafood is not aged; the frozen seafood selections are processed and frozen immediately after the initiation of harvest.
- Canned Seafood Most customers with histamine sensitivities prefer to order frozen seafood selections and avoid canned seafood. Should you consider including canned seafood in your diet, our supplier (Vital Choice), shares that tuna has been reported to cause more histamine issues based on their customer feedback. For histamine sensitivity concerns, Vital Choice recommends either their canned salmon, sardines, or mackerel instead of their canned tuna.
What is a "primal" and a "sub-primal"?
Answer There are nine primary cuts of beef in a harvested animal, and these are known as “primal.” You can learn more about each primal cut here. It is possible to cut each of these primal into smaller “sub-primal” cuts. For example, a short loin is sub-primal of the loin primal. A tenderloin and a striploin are also sub-primals of the loin primal. You can save significant money on our meat by ordering a primal, and cutting it into retail cuts at home.
How can I learn about the different cuts of meat?
Answer Please visit our “Learn Your Cuts” page.
What is the difference between "fresh chilled beef" and regular products?
Answer Most US Wellness Meats products are stored and shipped frozen, but a small selection of “fresh chilled beef” has never been frozen and will arrive at your door fresh and cool to the touch. Like our regular beef products, it is forage-fed and aged for optimal tenderness and flavor. Please note, fresh chilled beef ships the third Wednesday of every month and arrives separate from frozen products. Please note the shipping schedule listed in the web store. For more information, visit our Fresh Chilled Blog.
Why will some vacuum ground beef packages show color differences?
Answer US Wellness Meats uses cryovac vacuum packaging on bulk burger and patties in order to guarantee that our packaging is the safest possible. Vacuum-sealing ground beef packages will often remove some oxygen from the beef itself, this can result in varying surface color on all four sides of the package. This is an appearance issue only and will not result in taste or flavor concerns. US Wellness has never ever used food dye to mask the dull color of vacuum sealed ground beef.
Are the "processed" products (sausage, hot dogs, pre-cooked products, etc.) also made from grass-fed beef?
Answer Yes. All beef products on our site are made with 100% US Wellness Meats grass-fed beef.
How do I find out the ingredients in any prepared product?
Answer Ingredients are listed on the individual product page. Click “details” to read the full product description. Feel free to contact our office with any specific questions or concerns.
What is pemmican and how does it fit into my diet?
Answer Centuries ago, the Native Americans of the Great Plains developed pemmican as a means of preserving fat and protein. Pemmican was a blend of tallow (40%), air-dried jerky (60%), and seasonal berries and raw honey, if available. With dried berries acting as a natural preservative and added energy from honey, pemmican was—and still is—a wonder food. US Wellness Meats pemmican is:
- A super snack bar, best opened when frozen for ease of opening;
- Ready to consume after 15-20 minutes at room temperature;
- A delicious and healthful addition to scrambled eggs, green beans or meat loaf.
Why does the pemmican have to be frozen?
Answer Pemmican is made from beef jerky that is dried, but not to the point of being shelf-stable. For this reason, our pemmican is perishable and must be stored in the freezer. To learn more about our pemmican, check out this pemmican blog page.
How long can US Wellness Meats products be stored in the refrigerator? Freezer?
Answer Storage time varies from product to product. On average, we say three to seven days in the refrigerator, and up to several years in the freezer as long as the vacuum seal holds.
Section 3 About Our Other Products
Which dairy products are pasteurized and which are not?
Answer All of our raw cheeses are grass-fed, raw, un-pasteurized, and of superior quality. Butter is pasteurized at the lowest temperatures allowed by state law for 30 minutes. Anchor butter is homogenized.
Is your butter "raw"? Homogenized? Cultured?
Answer Please see above. It is illegal for us to sell raw butter.
Is the butter frozen? Is the cheese frozen?
Answer Butter ships frozen; however, it can be stored in the refrigerator but freezing will extend shelf life. Cheese is fresh and ships fresh. Cheese will store for a month in the refrigerator. Cheeses can be frozen and will have minimal texture changes after thawing. Gouda freezes the best and cheddar may be a bit crumbly after thawing; however, flavor will not change significantly.
What are nutraceuticals? How can I learn more about them?
Answer US Wellness Meats’ nutraceuticals are concentrated vitamin and mineral supplements designed to enhance your daily diet.
Section 4 Health and Safety
What is the best way to thaw my order from US Wellness Meats?
Answer It is best to thaw meat using the refrigerator. With this method, a one-pound package will thaw in approximately 20 to 24 hours. We do not recommend thawing meat in the microwave; however, if you must, select the lowest power setting to avoid cooking (rather than defrosting) the meat. Check the meat frequently to monitor thawing. Occasionally, pinholes can occur in the tumultuous first hour or two of transit at minus 10 degrees. We always suggest thawing products on a plate in the refrigerator to catch any packages that have developed leaks in transit.
How should I cook my order?
Answer Cook ground beef until no pink remains, or until the meat temperature registers 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Slow-cooking methods that retain moisture work well on lean, red meat. Braising is recommended for roasts and low heat is ideal for steaks. Steaks should be prepared to a minimum of 140 degrees Fahrenheit (rare) to a maximum of 160 degrees Fahrenheit (medium) for the most tenderness and flavor.
What is CLA?
Answer Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is fatty acid that is produced naturally in the bodies of grass-fed animals and is found in their meat and milk. Grass-fed cattle are likely to have two to three times the amount of CLA as grain-fed animals, and this nutritional value is passed on to you when you eat grass-fed meat. Research shows that a diet rich in CLA can help reduce a person’s risk of cancer, atherosclerosis, and diabetes.
Section 5 Shipping Information
Where does US Wellness Meats ship?
Answer All 50 states and Puerto Rico.
Do you ship to Canada?
AnswerWNONo, we are no longer able to ship to Canadian addresses. Due to new Covid customs protocols in Canada, we will no longer be able to ship product across the U.S. and Canadian border. We apologize for the inconvenience, but unfortunately this is out of our control.
Is there a shipping weight minimum?
Answer All orders must weigh at least 7 pounds total. Products that ship separately such as South Carolina Chicken bundles, BBQ Sauce, and cookbooks do not count towards the 7 pound weight minimum. You may learn more about our order minimums here.
Is there a purchase minimum?
Answer A $75 minimum order is required. If your order weighs more than 7 lbs, but costs less than $75, it does not meet our minimum order requirements. We have built the cost of shipping into our products; the price listed online includes FedEx shipping. The only additional charges are sales tax and a $9.50 handling fee.
Why is a handling fee added when shipping is advertised as free?
Answer The US Wellness Meats handling fee covers the labor expense of the person filling your order on the day of shipping. Keep in mind this person is working for you in a very cold environment of minus 10 degrees! We do our best to limit the expense by making it a flat fee, which means it is a minimal percentage of the overall cost of larger orders. Actual shipping charges have been included in the cost of our products since we started our company.
How is my meat packaged?
Answer After four weeks of wet aging, the beef is vacuum packed in state-of-the-art cryovac vacuum packaging. All other meats are cut and packaged directly after harvest without aging. This airless environment ensures high quality and a long shelf life in your freezer. Meat will arrive at your door in well-insulated styrofoam shipping containers.
When will my order be shipped?
Answer in a two column table.
| Day Order Placed | Estimated Shipping Date |
|---|---|
| Monday | Tuesday or Wednesday |
| Tuesday | Wednesday |
| Wednesday before 10AM CST | Wednesday |
| Wednesday after 10AM CST | Monday |
| Thursday | Monday |
| Friday | Monday |
| Saturday | Monday |
| Sunday | Monday or Tuesday |
Fresh chilled (never frozen) beef ships separately from frozen meat. Fresh beef usually ships the Wednesday after the first Friday of each month (as designated by the schedule in the product description on our website). If you have any questions about the shipment date of your fresh chilled beef order, please call our customer service team at (877) 383-0051 during regular business hours (M-F 8:30-4:30 CST).
What shipping method do you use?
Answer FedEx is our current exclusive carrier. We are unable to ship via other carriers.
When will I receive my order?
Answer We ship Monday-Wednesday every week and ship via FedEx Ground or Express service based on your zip code. We ship on Thursdays as needed due to high order volume or holidays. Deliveries are expected to arrive within three days from the time of shipping. You will receive a tracking number from FedEx after the order ships so you will know estimated delivery date. If you ever have special shipping requests, please contact customer service prior to ordering to ensure we are able to accomodate your needs.
How can I change my personal info/billing address/shipping address?
Answer Click here to change customer profile information. Enter your username and password and then make any necessary changes under “MY ACCOUNT”.
How should I dispose of the Styrofoam cooler? Do you have a recycling program for the Styrofoam containers?
Answer US Wellness Meats has explored both an ideal return policy for Styrofoam coolers and a new product with similar insulating properties. To date, we have not found a more environmentally friendly product with insulating properties matching those of Styrofoam. We suggest contacting local Meals On Wheels, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, or similar organizations to determine if they could make good use of these superior coolers. For more styrofoam reuse and recycling ideas, visit our Go Green Blog.
Section 6 Your Order
How do I order?
Answer Follow our easy online process. You can also call our toll free number (877) 383-0051 for live assistance.
When will my order be shipped?
Answer in a two column table.
| Day Order Placed | Estimated Shipping Date |
|---|---|
| Monday | Tuesday or Wednesday |
| Tuesday | Wednesday |
| Wednesday before 10AM CST | Wednesday |
| Wednesday after 10AM CST | Monday |
| Thursday | Monday |
| Friday | Monday |
| Saturday | Monday |
| Sunday | Monday or Tuesday |
We ship Monday-Wednesday every week and ship via FedEx Ground or Express service based on your zip code. We ship on Thursdays as needed due to high order volume or holidays. Deliveries are expected to arrive within three days from the time of shipping. You will receive a tracking number from FedEx after the order ships so you will know estimated delivery date. If you ever have special shipping requests, please contact customer service prior to ordering to ensure we are able to accomodate your needs.
Fresh chilled (never frozen) beef ships separately from frozen meat. Fresh beef usually ships every third Wednesday (as designated by the schedule in the product description on our website). If you have any questions about the shipment date of your fresh chilled beef order, please call customer service at (877) 383-0051.
When will I receive my order?
Answer We ship Monday-Wednesday every week and ship via FedEx Ground or Express service based on your zip code. Deliveries are expected to arrive within three days from when we ship. Packages normally deliver Tuesday-Friday. Occasionally, packages will deliver on Saturdays due to holidays or FedEx workload. We are unable to deliver on Sundays or Mondays due to FedEx’s schedule. You will receive a tracking number from FedEx after the order ships which will display the estimated delivery date and allow you to monitor delivery progress.
How can I change my personal info/billing address/shipping address?
Answer Click here to change customer profile information. Enter your username and password and then make any necessary changes.
How are credits issued?
Answer In the event that we must issue a credit, it will be issued as either a store credit or a credit to the credit card used for the purchase, unless otherwise requested.
How much freezer space will I need?
Answer One cubic foot of freezer space will hold approximately 22 to 28 lbs. of beef.
Section 7 Subscriptions
Will I still be able to place à la carte orders when I choose?
Answer Yes! We now offer both classic à la carte ordering and the option to create a personalized subscription box of your choosing — or both if you wish. The choice is yours!
How often can I have my subscription delivered?
Answer You have the option to have your subscription delivered Weekly, Bi‑Weekly, Monthly, or Bi‑Monthly
Do subscription orders have an order minimum?
Answer Yes, all orders placed at US Wellness Meats must meet the $75 and 7 pounds oder minimum.
Can I have more than one subscription?
Answer Yes! You can have as many as you would like at the frequency of your choice.
Will you have sampler and diet specific boxes?
Answer Yes! We have pre‑picked bundles such as an Ultimate Steak Bundle, Farm Fresh Favorites, Keto Cravings, Carnivore Collection, and Raw Pet Food Bundle. These will be available à la carte and as a subscription.
Will Subscription orders get a discount?
Answer Oh, yes! All subscription orders will automatically receive 10% off on every order.
Can I edit my subscription?
Answer Subscription orders can be edited until the Friday before Monday shipments. After Friday, orders can not be altered.
Will all products be offered as options for subscription boxes?
Answer No, we have carefully selected products we can assure will be in‑stock, but do not worry this product lineup includes over 100 products you know and love!
