Coutersy:

A 2012 meta-analysis determined that prevalence of E. coli contamination was not statistically significant (7% in organic produce and 6% in conventional produce). Differences in the prevalence of bacterial contamination between organic and conventional animal products were also statistically insignificant.^[52]

Organic meat production requirements[edit]

United States[edit]

Organic meat certification in the United States requires farm animals to be raised according to USDA organic regulations throughout their lives. These regulations require that livestock are fed certified organic food that contains no animal byproducts.^[107] Further, organic farm animals can receive no growth hormones or antibiotics, and they must be raised using techniques that protect native species and other natural resources. Irradiation and genetic engineering are not allowed with organic animal production.^[107][108] One of the major differences in organic animal husbandry protocol is the “pasture rule”:^[107] minimum requirements for time on pasture do vary somewhat by species and between the certifying agencies, but the common theme is to require as much time on pasture as possible and reasonable.^[109][110]

Economics[edit]

This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (December 2021)

Organic agriculture has higher potential costs due to lower yields and higher labor costs, leading to higher consumer prices.^[49] Demand for organic foods is primarily driven by concerns for personal health and for the environment.^[111] Global sales for organic foods climbed by more than 170 percent since 2002 reaching more than $63 billion in 2011^[112] while certified organic farmland remained relatively small at less than 2 percent of total farmland under production,^[49] increasing in OECD and EU countries (which account for the majority of organic production) by 35 percent for the same time period.^[113] Organic products typically cost 10 to 40% more than similar conventionally produced products, to several times the price.^[114] Processed organic foods vary in price when compared to their conventional counterparts.

While organic food accounts for about 1% of total food production worldwide,^[49] the organic food sales market is growing rapidly with between 5 and 10 percent of the food market share in the United States according to the Organic Trade Association,^[115] significantly outpacing sales growth volume in dollars of conventional food products. World organic food sales jumped from US$23 billion in 2002^[116] to $63 billion in 2011.^[11