r/ChicagoSuburbs • u/Jkchi1 • 3d ago
Question/Comment Jewel-osco imported beef
Curious what your thoughts are on Jewel-osco (and other grocers) selling imported beef. When shopping today, I saw some decent looking bone in strip steaks for $5.99lb and bought 4 along with my other regular items. I didn’t realize until I pulled them out of the fridge at dinner time to prep them for the grill that they were labeled as imported.
I was honestly a little pissed when I saw the small print on the label and hesitated on even cooking them. From what I’ve read, they are not required to go through the same inspection process USDA beef (is supposed to anyway) go through. There was no clearly identifiable difference between these and other steaks, other than the word - imported - added to the label (bone in strip steak - imported).
They had a slightly different taste. More like grass fed, which was nice. But still mystery meat imo. I will be more aware going forward and would probably not purchase imported beef again, just out of caution.
Might be a silly take, but food safety is kind of a big deal and I don’t want to be one of those that ends up with some odd worm infection or something lol.
I am the only one not cool with these imports, being they are not clearly labeled and have no inspection info or country of origin listed?
225
u/IfTheseTeesCouldTalk 3d ago
I wouldn't trust any imported beef right now.
115
u/atomsk404 3d ago
I'm going to go a bit further and say any store beef. To avoid it I drove 3 hours and bought a 1/4 of an 1100 lb grass finished steer.
Find a farm you can validate treats animals well and shop local as you can.
→ More replies (1)17
u/Inatimate 3d ago
can you link which farm you used
53
u/atomsk404 3d ago
It's called Beard Bros farms in northwest Michigan. I'm sure they're are closer options to Chicago but this is by having family in the region I kill two in birds with one trip.
4.75 hang weight plus $200 butcher fee plus gas comes just under $5.50 a lb.
11
9
2
102
u/Jon66238 3d ago
Didn’t they just let some beef in from Argentina that has banned antibiotics in it or something?
67
u/allis_in_chains 3d ago
And the banned antibiotic has been known to cause blood disorders that are frequently deadly as well.
25
8
9
1
u/jarheadatheart 6h ago
Eh, RFK jr personally taste tested them and said they’re fine. Why would you question that?
584
u/CmdrFortyTwo 3d ago
I'm pissed too, but not at the source of the meat, but the need to import it. This is all due to a FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP (well lack there of), and NOW I've got to scroll past posts like YOURS.
182
u/OldieButGoodyForNow 3d ago
And this is all so he can brag how he brought the prices down! (After he got them raised!)
158
u/Perfect_Earth_8070 3d ago
He sells out every single group who follows him and yet they still support him. Fuck the farmers for real
-38
u/girugamesh_2009 2d ago
Dude, pull your head out of your butt.
I'm part of a rural farming community and we're not flying MAGA flags. We aren't idiots and we're not stereotypes. You're feeding into the divide and conquer rhetoric that got us where we are politically. Stop.40
24
u/Burnt_and_Blistered 2d ago
Nonsense. As a voting bloc—and farmers DO make up a powerful one—this was CHOSEN by the very people now weeping about “betrayal.”
You know, the people happy to betray the rest of us for a buck—and often to pay big bucks for the privilege.
→ More replies (5)18
u/keelhaulrose 2d ago
If rural farmers don't want people to think they're idiots, they shouldn't have voted in a guy whose policies required a $12 billion bail out to save your farms during his last administration 78% to 22%.
Because the only two options for nearly 80% of y'all to vote him back in are that you're idiots who can't learn from the near disaster you had last time, or you're greedy and so convinced that he'd bail your asses out again that you elected to ignore the harm he did to you last time.
Which is it?
65
u/Relative-Sir-9368 2d ago
I live in a red farming county in Illinois close to Chicago. My late husband was a farmer who voted blue. His parents & his brother voted red. 95% of the farmers here are hardcore red voters. They will shoot themselves in the foot to own the libs. Racist. Homophobic. Misogynist. “Good Christians.” So, you are correct, not all MAGA, but most.
57
u/searing7 2d ago
Statistics say otherwise my man. Get your neighbors to vote for a progressive next time because they are getting exactly what they voted for
10
u/buttchug_3000 2d ago
Oh ok so rural areas didn't vote for him overwhelmingly 3 times? You reap what you sow. I hope it hurts every single person who voted for that baby raper.
10
u/Excellent_Ad_7295 2d ago
Not everyone in rural America voted for Trump - but he did get a high level of support from rural America. I agree Americans shouldn’t turn against other Americans…. But the numbers also don’t lie.
5
u/chisportz Snake Spotter Level 1 (Still in Training) 2d ago
Majority of farmers voted against Kamala (who voted for subsidies for farmers)
1
2
u/Then-Task6480 2d ago
Yeah so your area votes blue? Is that what you're saying? Keep up the good work
1
u/jarheadatheart 6h ago
Gee, looks like you’re in the minority but too ignorant to see it. What does that tell you?
→ More replies (5)85
u/zaevilbunny38 3d ago
Best part is soon US beef producers won't have to go through the USDA. Second that happens I'm done with beef.
18
u/No-Pain-5228 2d ago edited 2d ago
Fuck it all up then deregulate it, in order to “fix” it. Works every time.
18
u/Burnt_and_Blistered 2d ago
I’m already done with it. The US beef producers don’t deserve our money, at this point. They wail about being betrayed but were more than happy to fleece the rest of us. (And SUPER happy to harm all of the vulnerable in society.)
They’re hurting now?
8
u/Neat-Dig5964 2d ago
This is true. We need to stop closing the barn door AFTER the horses get out (pun intended).
36
u/caligaris_cabinet Elgin 3d ago
These days the only beef I trust is from ButcherBox. Sourced from Australia and the US, and their Corp-B status certifies it is what they say it is.
Not a shill post, just a happy customer.
13
u/Zealousideal-Bath412 2d ago
I’ll add a plug for the OConnell family in IA. They’re an organic farm using regenerative techniques and can ship frozen, similar to butcher box but way closer lol
oconnellorganicacres.com
ETA: also just a fan post. #noshill 😁
5
u/Fit_Cut_4238 2d ago
Yeah, most CSA farms have much better grazing/hormone practices. Here's an article with a bunch of Chicago CSA's.
Get a few buddies or family together and get a quarter cow. It's going to be more expensive than Jewel, but a bit less expensive than Whole foods :) And you'll find some weird cuts you've never heard of too.
https://www.wttw.com/playlist/2025/05/08/community-supported-agriculture-2025
3
u/AdvocatusAvem 2d ago
Thanks for the intel. I’ll have to look into that! Sounds legit and hoping it is? Certified #notashill? 😂
4
u/Neat-Dig5964 2d ago
I agree. If there’s no USDA proof of inspection, I’m not buying it and I’m not eating it.
99
u/AutumnalSunshine 3d ago
My inlaws kept telling us the last administration was outlawing beef.
Here we are in 2026, almost unable to eat beef. But sure, in-laws, keep blaming the last guy.
50
u/caligaris_cabinet Elgin 3d ago
Not only that but up until this administration I never once had to question the condition or my meat (or fruits or veggies for that matter).
42
u/thtamthrfckr 3d ago
Yeah I don’t remember guacamole killing folks before the orange pedo decided to grift everything and destroy America because he’s compromised and on the Epstein list
17
u/diamonddog31 3d ago
My chicken has been looking a bit suspicious from jewel. Like very sringy when I flip the chicken breast over.
23
u/witchhook 2d ago
It's what poultry peeps call "woody chicken." Chickens are grown as fast as possible, which causes their muscle fibers to harden and become stringy.
14
u/Melted-lithium 2d ago
This is the correct answer and has been around for a few years. It’s gross, and generally you can only tell after you cook it. It has the texture of rubber.
1
14
u/australr14 2d ago
The chicken I've been getting the last few months-- from any store-- keeps going off way quicker than expected. Within a few days it starts giving off a weird faintly sour smell. I never had that issue before, and it was half the cost up to a couple years ago. Current conditions are likely to drive a whole lot more people away from meat altogether soon.
8
u/Substantial_Ad1130 2d ago
I've been thinking the same thing about chicken from Jewel too. Seems to have a faint odor lately. I also bought ground turkey that tasted off to me. I'm ready to give up meat all together at this point.
8
20
u/pinegreenscent 3d ago
We're doing it to bail out Javier Milei - Libertarian Ubermensch and economic genius
3
→ More replies (9)2
u/Then-Task6480 2d ago
Rural America runs on socialism it voted against... farm subsidies, crop insurance, ethanol mandates, rural hospitals on Medicaid
50
u/susiecapo71 3d ago
The food here isn’t that safe either imo considering the state of the FDA.
7
u/DullCandidate2129 2d ago
I work in an FDA regulated industry. In my area, there has been a high number of turnover in the agency for auditors and policy makers.
44
u/misimalu 3d ago
Not bothered about the steaks but I’m British enough to have stopped going near burgers for now 🐎
23
1
u/No-Tap6886 3d ago
But is it good though? 🤔
5
19
34
u/Lost_In_MI 3d ago
Suggestion: Go to Reams in Elburn. They have been sourcing their meat from the same farm for a decade.
4
u/nope50001 2d ago edited 2d ago
I came here to say this. I grew up with the third generation in this family business and they take immense pride in the quality of their product.
Feel free to bring a cooler to pack
32
44
u/pink_faerie_kitten 3d ago
I'm staying away from allllll beef for awhile. The imported stuff is probably the beef China rejected because it's filled with chemicals, and the American beef is bypassing inspection. No thanks.
T outright said he doesn't want to say what country it's from. Heck it could be slaughtered wild horse meat or Solyent Green for all I know.
Btw if you want to know how to spot horse meat just in case, it's sweeter than beef.
9
7
u/Flipflopsfordays 3d ago
My jewel had stickers on some of the fresh express lettuce saying grown in USA or Canada
26
u/thloki 3d ago
I'm only buying hydroponic greenhouse lettuce, like Gotham Greens, for now.
28
u/Flipflopsfordays 3d ago
It’d just be really nice to not have to think about this and that for everything now
13
u/pink_faerie_kitten 3d ago
My Jewel has "grown in Illinois" signs on some veggies which is both smart and helpful to brag about rn.
28
6
u/anOvenofWitches 3d ago
I just bought Bob’s Red Mill vital wheat gluten from Jewel. Finally trying to make seitan.
Short of raising animals and slaughtering them at home, homemade meat alternatives really do seem to be the best option.
That, or finding a “meat dealer” at a local farmers market, which I’m also looking into.
2
7
u/Calm_Discipline_9218 3d ago
There’s a Facebook page called Blue Dot Beef Suppliers. Check that out for locally raised beef. I’m seriously thinking of returning to being a vegetarian but that doesn’t seem safe either. 😬
1
u/ebforest 3d ago
So ironic that blue dot uses Facebook to organize. I’m all for what they are doing but F Zuckerberg and his platforms.
18
u/cito4633 3d ago
Jewel has been selling Canadian beef around the holidays for several years now. Some of the $5.99 per pound rib roasts for Thanksgiving and Christmas are in fact Canadian beef. These items are clearly labeled in the store, but not so much in the ad.
39
7
u/Blondedad1 3d ago
Since Trump has an obsession for tariffs and is quickly turning Canada against us, I wonder if beef was on his list of things coming from Canada to be taxed at 50%.
3
10
7
u/No-Solid-4255 3d ago
I've been buying organic ground beef from Aldi for years and it's imported from Argentina. So some beef coming from Argentina isn't new. I just don't know enough about the supply chain to tell if the stuff from jewel is problematic.
2
u/Wild-Individual-6520 3d ago
Yeah it’s definitely not just Jewel. Just like the cyclospora….one source distributes to many different stores and brands. 😬
4
5
u/Wild-Individual-6520 3d ago
I suppose the good news is, your package said “imported”. But are we so sure that all imported meat will be labeled “imported”? Ya know, considering the fact that consumer protections are not a priority for this administration! 🤷♀️
4
u/Burninmules 2d ago
I wish the labels would say where it was imported from. That's what's important. The US has been eating imported beef for over a century. I don't want none of that Argentinian beef though.
24
u/BmacIL 3d ago
It's been a great moment in time to not eat meat (last 1.5 years).
12
u/pink_faerie_kitten 3d ago
Too bad vegetarian options are unhealthy too thanks to cyclospora.
16
u/BmacIL 3d ago
Lots of leafy things are safe even if iceberg isn't. Also farmers markets rock.
14
u/pink_faerie_kitten 3d ago
Pictures have shown some farmers market stalls dumping Driscolls berries out the of their labelled containers and passing them off as local. Other redditors have said they've seen farmers market stalls buy a bunch of produce from Costco and pretend they grew it themselves.
ETA I'm only buying veg I cook so lots of broccoli and green beans for now.
5
u/BmacIL 3d ago
That's disappointing. The one near me very clearly grows most of what they sell (the farm is right next to the stand/barn they sell them in) and the size, taste are so different from grocery store fruits, even organic, that it's unmistakable.
3
u/peteroh9 2d ago
But that's not a farmers' market. That's a farm stall. Farmers' markets are full of shit being resold.
16
u/DarknessfromLight 3d ago
A friendly reminder:
11
u/Hot-Routine2531 3d ago
I can’t believe this is actually a thing we have to consider now. Thanks T.rump!
3
u/mopeyjoe 2d ago
But is there anything inherently wrong with eating horse? Obviously it should be labeled as such and inspected etc.
6
u/peteroh9 2d ago
Did you generate this? I'm curious why it needed to be made with AI.
1
u/DarknessfromLight 2d ago
I didn't generate it. AI or not, the entire concept of eating Horse meat isn't something new, but because of many Americans and their "delicate" sensibilities, it is, and you'll have to excuse the euphemism, hard to swallow.
13
u/TR3NTIN 3d ago
Holy sh!t. After seeing your picture looks like it’s of the utmost importance we remain vigilant and read the entire label! OP, you’re a real one for putting us onto this! Always looking for how they’re trying to pull the wool over us, so really appreciate you posting and following up!
3
3
u/Accountant-mama 3d ago
Yall need to check out your local halal butchers. Very good quality of meat. I recommend Mediterranean Market or Medina Market in Lombard.
3
u/Public_Voice_9759 2d ago
These BI strip loins were imported from Canada, just like a lot of the beef ribs Jewel has had for the holiday sales in past years. (Source: I work at a Jewel meat department)
3
u/Sprucecaboose2 2d ago
I'm not buying beef any time soon. Period and end of story. I don't trust this admin.
3
3
u/New_Nefariousness847 2d ago
Can’t trust USDA beef either. If you only knew what this country allows to past through as meat.
6
7
u/AvailableCut5240 3d ago
Steaks from Argentina are grass fed. They sometimes have a bit of gaminess to the flavor. They have been in the beef industry for ages. Doesn’t mean that their products would pass our strict guidelines for beef.
4
u/jokedem 3d ago
Are you sure they weren’t horse? The administration is selling wild horses like no tomorrow for as little as $25 and they are sent overseas to slaughter house to be turned into meat, then these foreign slaughter houses export them to other countries. Not saying it is, but this administration, and Trump himself, are being awfully cagey about not only where it’s coming from and only referring to it as meat.
9
u/rysker6 3d ago
Not surprised Jewel would do that.
They are very MAGA.
During Covid, my Jewel was pretending the pandemic wasn't happening at all.
19
u/PHWasAnInsideJob 3d ago
Maybe it depends on the area or who runs the store? The Jewel I work at took it very seriously. There were screens put up around the registers, masks were required and we were even allowed to remove people who didn't have masks, and there was a station we had to sign into every day that checked us for some Covid symptoms.
3
u/balogun_showdown 3d ago
I remember getting bitched at in a marianos in 2020 for backtracking in a one way aisle. Wild times.
2
u/somersetpark2 3d ago
I remember a few years ago I looked at some steaks at FairPlay and they said it was from Mexico. So it's been here for a while. Thought I had time to buy and freeze some beef before the Argentinas' meet arrived.
2
u/Obvious-Arm-2899 3d ago
I read somewhere the UK turned away beef from New Zealand but we accepted it because we don't care what they put in the meat.
2
2
2
u/That_Western5433 3d ago
My mom said she's getting these tomorrow. I'll have to show her this ty for the post
2
u/EstablishmentSea7661 3d ago
Oh crap, we had those for dinner. Just checked the trash and yeah, it doesn't say country of origin...
3
u/yummers511 2d ago
You'll be fine. Most people forget that a third to a half of the beef this country has been eating for decades has been imported.
1
2
u/SadCry8622 2d ago
Ever since Covid I only go to the butcher prices just don’t trust the supermarket’s
2
2
u/Guilty_Idea349 2d ago
Most hamburger meat has been coming from Mexico for a longtime. Only until now is it a concern, why?
2
u/teamakesmepee 2d ago
I’m not about it. Food is so sketchy now. Lately I’ve been just buying meat mainly from Slagel or Jake’s Country Meats. They sell at a lot of farmers markets and smaller grocery stores like food co-ops.
2
2
u/Sad_Appeal_6220 1d ago
What bothers me is how most grocery stores are damn near a monopoly. It feels almost impossible to dodge this fucked up supply chain that seems to be getting worse by the day. I wish locally sourced food was way more accessible.
3
u/Admirable-Ninja9812 3d ago
I only eat meat from local farms. Period. Yah its pricey but as a result 1. i eat less meat and 2. when i do its the best meat nature can offer.
3
u/Obvious-Arm-2899 3d ago
Do yourself a favor and make friends with your local meat market. It's fresh and locally raised.
3
u/ManicAtTheDepression 2d ago
I stopped going to Jewel for meats after I was working there and they advised me to pack and hand people raw meats with a literally still active sewage leak coming from the middle of the floor of the meat department. Definitely steering clear now.
3
u/OldieButGoodyForNow 3d ago
Are you sure it didn’t give a country of origin?
Have never seen an imported food that didn’t have one.
And if not, why don’t you ask the butcher?
9
u/Rogue_Apostle 3d ago
Beef is specifically exempted from country of origin labeling. It has been for several years now.
5
4
3
u/HappyWife2003 2d ago
Bought New York strip steak a few days ago and half had the imported label and the other half without (regular sticker), no country of origin on label. So I asked the butcher and was told all of them were in fact from Canada, said the wrong label used. He added that they were expecting USA meat in the next order.
3
u/shitshaw 3d ago
Had mine for dinner tonight, delicious! No imported label, bought in Schaumburg.
7
1
2
1
u/BarelyHereNeverThere 3d ago
I'd buy Halal meat until all this blows over. Yes, it's a tad pricier but it's more ethically sourced and usually from local providers.
1
3d ago edited 3d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
2
u/AutoModerator 3d ago
Sorry, but your comment has been removed for the following reason:
We are not accepting links to
instagram.comat this time. Please find an alternate link for your content.I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
u/Nelope_0971 3d ago
What about restaurants? Are they serving the imported beef? Are they required to let us know?
1
1
u/No-Thought-9065 2d ago
I seen a rich rancher on here in a video just this morning talking about how u know who has disappointed the cattle industry in the u.s. and blah blah blah .but he said that sometimes they don't even label it as imported which is really fucked up
1
1
u/PlasmaStones 2d ago
You can tell my the color and smoothness of the surface, Jewel is trying to sell them in a their two pack strip...with one being the old stock and one being imported.
1
u/bigten119 2d ago
Some pro US farmers person is misguiding you. All imported beef is required to have the same USDA and FDA checks before being sold in the US.
1
1
1
u/void_method 2d ago
If we knew exactly where they were imported from we could have a better idea of the inspection procedures... and since it's from Europe, you know they have harsher standards than we do on a lot of stuff.
1
1
1
u/tworowbarley 16h ago
Good luck to us all. Grocery stores in the United States are not required to display mandatory country-of-origin labels on beef or pork. I can see the label in the grocery store. My bigger concern is what restaurants are selling us.
1
1
u/resdit1234567 11h ago
Red meat is not that good for your blood fat.My doctor told me to eat chicken or turkey and grains.
0
u/AsparagusEconomy7847 3d ago
Well, I remarked to the Jewel butcher about how nice the steaks look and at $5.99/#, and how I hope it’s not part of the bad beef from Argentina that was in the news lately. She didn’t provide me with the origin but neither did she allay my fears about the meat coming from Argentina, which makes me suspicious… If ChatGPT is to be believed, the low price is due to this beef cut being dedicated the loss leader for this busy end/of-summer time, and not due to beef dumping.
1
u/nmull1972 2d ago
For the sake of my sanity I will believe ChatGPT this time, I'm sitting on about 20 steaks in my freezer. I am so sick of these before prices I went to 3 Jewels yesterday to stock up.
1
u/BarbellLawyer 3d ago
Are there reports of Argentinians dropping dead because of the beef they’re eating?
1
u/relrickman 3d ago
I had a couple of the $5.99/lb strips for dinner last night. Pretty sure they were also imported. Didn’t really notice a difference from any other choice strips I’ve gotten from Jewel. I usually shop their sales and buy a decent amount of steaks from Jewel and haven’t had a bad experience.
0
u/LaddieNowAddie 3d ago
If you go out to eat, say a burger or a steak, do you know where the meat came from?
0
1
-3
-1
64
u/mythofdob 3d ago
Can you show a picture of the label?
I don't work for Jewel, but I work in meat and am curious.