This has bothered us for years. It's one of those gnawing feelings when you know something isn't right even though it's legal, but you can't quite put your finger on it. We finally realized that silence gives permission and we'd rather other consumers know what we know, since it represents a type of "legal" consumer fraud.
Denver Buffalo, now called New West Foods, adds beef to ground buffalo and sells it as "100% buffalo". Wild Oats buys from Denver Buffalo and sells this product in their stores the same way.
It's legal and this is why.
The USDA classifies "buffalo" as an exotic game meat, with exempts it from labeling laws. That means that less ethical bison producers and processors can not only add up to 49% beef, water buffalo and beefalo to American Buffalo and still call it "buffalo" - they are not required to list ingredients. Any nutritional labeling done is strictly voluntary.
The past 10-15 years, consumer demand for a more healthful red meat has steadily increased, and with it, demand for bison. Noting the growing popularity of beef alternatives, water buffalo began emerging in the marketplace creating additional confusion. Finally the National Bison Association asked its members to label their meat 100% bison. That's because the correct biological term for the American Buffalo is "bison bison". When listed this way, there can be no mistake that the consumer is buying native American Buffalo - not water buffalo, beefalo or undisclosed combinations of meat.
As the very powerful beef industry demand softened, many beef producers turned to raising buffalo, noting the demand for this naturally lean, low cholesterol meat and the fact that there is less of it available, which means the price is higher.in fact, bison flavor is so much like beef, most people can't tell the difference.
This industry practice is more wide spread than we originally thought and includes equally unethical restaurants who aren't required to list ingredients. Last year we asked "Hoss's" chain about the amount of beef added to their 100% buffalo burgers, but they have not responded. An emerging chain in Florida called "Healthy Express" sells buffalo burgers and a manager told us it's actually 'beefalo', but "It's really the same thing." Later we were told by someone else that he was just confused. We don't think so.
For heart patients and those trying to avoid eating beef for various reasons, we think it's fraudulent to misrepresent a product and sell it at a higher price. The consumer thinks they are paying for and getting 100% buffalo (bison) burgers, without knowing that as much as 49% beef has been added to the meat.
And we can't help but wonder, if Denver Buffalo and Wild Oats misrepresent their products in this one instance, in what other ways might they misrepresenting other products.
Consumers deserve to know exactly what they're paying for, especially with mad cow disease awareness and continuing beef recalls. We hope this will help alert consumers to ask. Semantics matter. If it says 100% buffalo, ask how much beef or fat has been added. If they "don't know", pass. If the package says 100% bison, there can be no mistake.
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